252 
BREWER’S DUCK. 
Anas Breweri, And. 
PLATE OOOLXXXYII.— Male. 
The beautiful Duck from which I made the drawing copied on the plate 
before you, was shot on Lake Barataria, in Louisiana, in February, 1822. 
It was in company with seven or eight Canvass-back Ducks. No other 
individuals of the species were in sight at the time, and all my efforts to 
procure another have been ineffectual. 
The individual figured was a male ; but I have some doubts whether it had 
acquired the full beauty of its matured plumage, and I considered it at the 
time as a bird of the preceding season. 
In form and proportions this bird is very nearly allied to the Mallard, 
from which it differs in having the bill considerably narrower, in wanting 
the recurved feathers of the tail, in having the feet dull yellow in place of 
orange red, the speculum more green and duller, without the white bands of 
that bird, and in the large patch of light red on the side of the head. It may 
possibly be an accidental variety, or a hybrid between that bird and some 
other species, perhaps the Gadwall, to which also it bears a great resem- 
blance. 
Bill nearly as long as the head, higher than broad at the base, depressed 
and widened towards the end, rounded at the tip, the lamellae short and 
numerous, the unguis obovate, curved, the nasal groove elliptical, the nostrils 
oblong. 
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed ; neck rather long and slender, 
body full, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed behind the centre of the 
body ; legs bare a little above the joint ; tarsus short, a little compressed, 
anteriorly with small scutella, laterally and behind with reticulated angular 
scales. Hind toe very small, with a narrow free membrane ; third toe 
longest, fourth a little shorter ; claws small, arched, compressed, acute. 
Plumage dense, soft, and elastic.; of the hind neck and head short and 
blended ; of the other parts in general broad and rounded. Wings of 
moderate length, acute ; tail short, graduated. 
Bill dull yellow, slightly tinged with green, dusky along the ridge. Iris 
brown. Feet dull yellow, claws dusky, webs dull grey. Head and upper 
