CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 157 



TUFTED DUCK. 



Case 196. 



On the lochs in the Highlands, and on the lakes and 

 broads in England, the Tufted Duck may be found in 

 smaller or larger flocks during the winter months. 



It is not till the latter end of the season that any 

 except the oldest drakes assume their handsome 

 plumage. On their first arrival in the autumn, the 

 whole of the birds composing the flocks present the 

 appearance of females or young. 



The males with the long tuft are supposed by the 

 gunners, in the east of Norfolk, to be in no way related 

 to the rest of their families, and, together with the 

 clrake Golden Eyes, are termed " Old Hardweathers." 

 I happened one night while flight shooting to kill a 

 perfect specimen of both species with the same barrel, 

 and nothing would convince my punt-man that they 

 were not male and female of one and the same kind. 



Like the Scaup and Pochard, with which they occa- 

 sionally associate, the Tufted Duck is an excellent 

 diver. A successful shot with the punt gun at a large 

 flock is certain to produce a number of cripples ; these 

 it is almost useless to pursue if there is the slightest 

 ripple on the water, as each makes off in a separate 

 direction, only occasionally showing the point of its 

 bill for air. 



One of the drakes in the case, while attempting to 

 escape by diving, was caught round the neck by a weed 

 and drowned. The water being at the time of the 

 occurrence as clear as glass, I noticed some bubbles 

 coming to the surface, and could plainly see him at a 



