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THE MALLARD OR WILD DUCK. 
Anas Boscas . Native names : Nilsir, Neroji , Upper India ; Lilgah (male), 
Lilgi (female), Nepal. 
Habitat — A resident of Kashmir and parts of the Himalayas, and a winter 
visitor to the plains, especially in the Punjab and Sind, also Assam; not so 
common elsewhere. 
Description. —Male—Entire head and neck, brilliant metallic green _ or 
purple, with a narrow white collar at the base; and the breast a rich 
chestnut, which is sufficient to distinguish the drake from other ducks. 
Female—has the head and neck streaked with black and fulvous; upper 
plumage, dark brown or black, with tail feathers similar. The upper wing 
coverts are brown; the speculum, metallic purple between two double 
bands of black and white; the entire lower plumage is fulvous marked 
with brown. It is a night feeder and unwary when not much worried, 
a strong fiver, a gluttonous eater, an inveterate diver when wounded and 
verv cunning at concealment. Male Length, about 23 inches, wing, 11 
inches ; tail, 4 inches ; Female—Length, about 21 inches; wing, 10 inches ; 
tail, 3f inches. Bill, greenish yellow, with a blackish nail. I rides, brown; 
legs, orange ; weight, 3 lbs. 
