not quite so long as the third, the tertiary quill feathers about the same
length as the fifth primary quill feather. Tail rather rigid and slightly
rounded, the feathers generally pointed. Bill rather long, narrow, and at
base of considerable depth, flat anteriorly, and broadest towards tip; nail at
apex of upper mandible well developed; nostrils oval and rather large,
ciliated processes on inner side of edges of upper mandible strongly developed.
Legs and toes short and rather slender; the tarsi latterly and behind
covered with small reticulated scales, anteriorly towards base of middle toe
with rudimentary plates. Toes covered with oblique transverse plates; the
web reaches to the base of the claws, and on the inner side of the outer and
inner toes, and on each side of the middle toe, is covered with several rows of
small scales ; claws short, slightly curved, and rather blunt.
DIMENSIONS.
In ch e s. Lines.
Length from the point of the bill to
the tip of the tail ......... 21 0
of the bill to the angle of the
mouth ................................ 2 8
of the wings when folded ... 10 6
of the tail............................. 4 q
In ch e s. Lin es.
Length of the tarsus........................ j q
of the outer toe ........ " " i 7'21
of the middle to e .................... l 8
of the inner toe .................... 1 3
of the hinder toe ..... 0 __ 5A
Young. The light colours of the head, neck and body are more rusty than
those of the adult, and the brown lighter and with less lustre. The shoulder
coverts are pale brownish red glossed with greyish blue, the secondary quill
coverts only narrowly tipped with white ; the outer vanes of the secondary
quill feathers only slightly glossed with shining blackish green, and hence no
distinct wing speculum exists. Base and portion of bill towards apex umber-
brown, centre light reddish brown, sides oil-green, finely powdered with
umber-brown.
This duck occurs abundantly in the marshes and on the small lakes which exist in the Cape
district, hut more sparingly in the interior, excepting in the neighbourhood of the towns of
Worcester and Uitenhage.