BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 
marginal membrane, the outer with a thickened edge, the third and fourth 
about equal and longest, all covered above with numerous narrow scutella. 
Claws small, slightly arched, obtuse, that of first toe very small, of third 
largest, and with an inner thin edge. 
Plumage dense, soft, and blended. Feathers on the fore part of the head 
very small and rounded, on the upper and hind parts linear and elongated, 
as they also are on the lateral and hind parts of the upper neck, so that when 
raised, they give the head an extremely tumid appearance, which is the 
more marked that the feathers of the neck immediately beneath are short. 
Wings very small, decurved, pointed ; the outer primaries pointed, the first 
longest, the rest rapidly graduated ; the secondaries incurved, obliquely 
rounded, the inner much elongated and acuminate. Tail short, graduated, 
of sixteen feathers. 
Bill light greyish-blue. Iris hazel. Feet very pale flesh-colour, claws 
brownish-black. Fore part of 'the head of a deep rich green, upper part 
rich bluish-purple, of which colour also are the elongated feathers on the 
fore part and sides of the neck, the hind part of the latter deep green ; a 
broad band of pure white from one cheek to the other over the occiput. 
The coloured parts of the head and neck are splendent and changeable. 
The rest of the neck, the lower parts, the outer scapulars, and a large patch 
on the wing, including the greater part of the smaller coverts and some of 
the secondary coverts and quills, pure white, the scapulars narrowly mar- 
gined with black, as are the inner lateral feathers. Axillary feathers brown- 
ish-black, some of them white on the margins and towards the end ; lower 
wing-coverts brownish-black, the smaller tipped with white. The back, 
inner scapulars, and inner secondary quills, velvet-black. The feathers on 
the anterior edge of the wing are black, narrowly edged with white ; alula, 
primary coverts, and primary quills, deep black. The feathers on the rump 
gradually fade into greyish-white, and those of the tail are brownish-grey, 
with the edges paler, and the shafts dusky. 
Length to end of tail 14 h inches, to end of wings I3f, to end of claws 
15f; extent of wings 23; wing from flexure 61 ; tail 3^ ; bill along the ridge 
1 t 2 2 , along the edge of lower mandible tarsus l r \, hind toe and claw 
t ®2 ; outer toe 2 r \ , its claw ; middle toe 2, its claw f \ ; inner toe and claw 
l r V Weight lib. 
Adult Female. 
The female is much smaller. The plumage of the head is not elongated 
as in the male, but there is a ridge of longish feathers down the occiput and 
nape. Bill darker than that of the male ; feet grevish-blue, with the webs 
dusky. Head, upper part of neck, hind neck, back and wings, greyish- 
brown ; a shor.t transverse white band from beneath the eye, and a slight 
