42 
PIED DUCK. 
very slightly longer than the first, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondary 
quills broad and rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail very 
short, much rounded, of fourteen tapering feathers. 
Bill with the basal space between the nostrils running into a rounded 
point in the middle, pale greyish-blue ; the sides of the base, and the edges 
of both mandibles for two-thirds of their length, dull pale orange ; the rest 
of the bill black. Iris reddish-hazel. Feet light greyish-blue, webs and 
claws dusky. Head and upper half of neck white, excepting an elongated 
black patch on the top of the head and nape. Below the middle of the neck 
is a black ring, from the hind part of which proceeds a longitudinal band 
of the same colour, gradually becoming wider on the back and rump; below 
the black ring anteriorly is a broad band of white, passing backwards on 
each side so as to include the scapulars. All the under parts black, except- 
ing the axillaries and lower wing-coverts. Upper wing-coverts and secon- 
dary quills white, some of the inner quills with a narrow external black 
margin ; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills, brownish-black. Tail 
brownish-black, tinged with grey, the shafts black ; upper tail-coverts 
dusky, minutely dotted with reddish-brown. 
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of claws 221, to end of wings 18f ; 
extent of wings 30 ; wing from flexure 9? ; tail 3§ ; bill along the ridge If, 
along the edge of lower mandible 2f ; tarsus 1J ; middle toe 2f, its claw f ; 
hind toe 4|, its claw V 5 5 outer toe and claw slightly longer than middle ; 
inner toe If, its claw 2 /. Weight 1 lb. 14f oz. 
Female. 
The female is less than the male. The bill, iris, and feet are coloured as 
in the male ; sides of the forehead white (not. in the figure, it having been 
taken from a young bird). The general colour is brownish-grey, darker on 
the head, cheeks, back, rump, and abdomen, of a lighter tint, approaching 
to ash-grey, on the throat, breast, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries, 
which are margined externally with black ; seven or eight of the secondary 
quills white ; the primaries and tail-feathers as in the male. 
Length to end of tail 18i inches, to end of claws 191, to end of wings 
17 ; extent of wings 29 ; wing from flexure 9 ; tail 3f ; bill along the ridge 
If, along the edge of lower mandible 2f ; tarsus 1£ ; hind toe and claw f ; 
middle toe and claw 21. Weight 1 lb. 1 oz. 
