KED-IIEADED DUCK. 113 



reconnoitre the paddler, and give information, to the rest, of his 

 motions. When the look-out Ducks apprehend danger, the stretching 

 up of their necks is the signal, and immediately the whole squadron, 

 facing to the wind, rise with a noise which may be heard at the distance 

 of half a mile. 



The guns employed in Canvas-back shooting should be of a medium 

 length and calibre ; and of the most approved patent breech. My 

 experience has taught me that a barrel of three feet seven inches, with 

 a bore short of seven-eighths of an inch, is quite as effective as one of 

 greater dimensions ; and is certainly more convenient. It may appear 

 a work of supererogation to speak of the quality of powder to be used 

 in this kind of sporting ; and yet so often are shooters deceived in this 

 article, either through penuriousness or negligence, that a word of advice 

 may not be unprofitable. One should obtain the best powder, without 

 regard to price ; it being an indisputable maxim in shooting, but which 

 is too often forgotten, that the best is always the cheapest. 



Species XIX. ANAS FERINA?* 



RED-HEADED DUCK. 



[Plate LXX. Fig. 6, Male.] 



This is a common associate of the Canvas-back, frequenting the same 

 places, and feeding on the stems of the same grass, the latter eating 

 only the roots ; its flesh is very little inferior, and it is often sold in our 

 mai'kets for the Canvas-back, to those unacquainted with the charac- 

 teristic marks of each. Anxious as I am to determine precisely whether 

 this species be the Red-headed Wigeon, Pochard, or Dunf bird of 

 England, I have not been able to ascertain the point to my own satis- 

 faction ; though I think it very probably the same, the size, extent, and 

 general description of the Pochard agreeing pretty nearly with this. 



The Red-head is twenty inches in length, and two feet six inches in 

 extent ; bill dark slate, sometimes black, two inches long, and seven- 



* Anas Ferina, Gmel. i., p. 530, No. 31. — Anas rufa. Id. p. 515. — Ind. Orn. p. 

 862, No. 77 ; p. 863, No. 1%.— Rufous-necked Duck, Gen. Syn. in., p. 477, No. 32.— 

 Pochard, Id. p. .523, No. 68. — Red-headed Duck, L.^wson's Carolina, p. 150. — 

 Bewick, ii., p. 2>'li).—Arct. Zool. No. 491. Br. Zool. No. 284.— Le Millouin, Bri.«s. 

 VI., p. 384, No. 19, pi. 35, fig. 1 ; Le Millouin nois. Id. p. 389, A young male? ; hf. 

 MiUonin du Mexique, Id. p. 390. No. 20, female, Buff, ix., p. 216. PI. Enl. 803 

 Temu. Man. d' Orn. p. 669. — Willoughby, p. 367, I xi. — Montaod, Orn. Diet. 



f Local names given to one and the same Duck. It is also called the Poker. 

 Vol. III.— 8 



