THE CHIXESK TEAL. 



Tli3 Mandarin Duck, or Chinese Teal, remarkable from the brilliancy of its plumage, 

 never mates a second time. Of this Mr. Davis gives the following proof : — " From a 

 pair of these birds, in Mr. Beale's aviary at Macao, the drake happened one night to be 

 stolen. The duck ^vlffe perfectly inconsolable, like Calypso after the departure of Ulj'sses. 

 She retired into a corner, neglected her food and person, refused all societ}', and rejected 

 with disdain the proffer of a second love. In a few days, the purloined duck was reco- 

 vered and brought back. The mutual demonstrations of joy were excessive ; and what 

 is more singular, the true husband, as if informed by his partner of what had happened 

 in his absence, pounced upon the would-be lover, tore out his eyes, and injured him so 

 much that he soon after died of his wounds." 



THE BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK.f 



Audubon says, " that during autumn and winter this bird is to be seen in almost every 

 part of the Union, frequenting the sea-shore, rivers, and lakes. It feeds on shell-fish, 

 shrimps, and marine plants, particularly the species of laver called Ulm hictuca, and the 

 bird being generally very fat, one of its common names is Butter-box ; it is also called 

 Spirit Duck, and Conjurer, from the facility with which it escapes by diving suddenly at 

 the flash of a gun, or the twang of a bowstring. The buffel-headed duck is a very hardy 

 bird, for it remains during extremely cold weather on the Ohio, when it is thickly covered 

 with floating ice, among which it is seen diving almost constantly in search of food. 

 When the river is frozen over they seek the head-waters of the rapid streams, in the 

 turbulent eddies of which they find abundance of prey. Possessed of a feeling of secu- 

 rity arising from the rapidity with which they can dive, they often allow you to go quite 

 near them, though they will then watch every motion, and at the snap of your gun, or 



Anns G.ilcriculatu. 



t Cliiiiifula Albodhi. 



