BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 275 



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 security 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 on its being dis- 

 charged, disappear with the swiftness of thought, and, per- 

 haps, as quickly rise again within a few yards, as if to ascer- 

 tain the cause of their alarm. When these birds return to us 

 from the north, the number of the young so much exceed 

 that of the old, that to find males in full plumage is much 

 more uncommon than toward the time of their departure, 

 when 1 have thought the males as numerous as the females. 

 Although at times they are very fat, their flesh is fishy and 

 disagreeable ; many of them, however, are oflTered for sale in 

 our markets. 



" The note is a mere croak, much resembling that of the 

 Golden Eye, but not so loud." These birds leave the United 

 States in spring to breed in more northern regions, and, like 

 the Golden Eye, are said to make their nests in hollow trees. 

 Mr. Audubon saw many in flocks in the Bay of Fundy. 

 The specimen figured by Edwards, plate 100, came from 

 Newfoundland. Dr. Richardson states that they frequent the 

 rivers and fresh-water lakes throughout the Fur countries in 

 great numbers, but does not mention having observed them 

 breeding. Dr. Townsend found this species on the streams 

 of the Rocky Mountains ; and it has been observed as far 

 westward as Monterey, in New California. Captain Beechey, 

 during a voyage to the Pacific and Behring's Straits, found 

 this Duck at San Francisco. 



In the adult male the bill is bluish-black, narrow, and 

 small ; irides hazel ; forehead, lore, chin, throat, and sides 



T 2 



