RED-CRESTED WHISTLING DUCK. 57 
in Cornwall, at Sivanpool, near Falmouth, in February, 1845. 
Another of these birds was shot at Horsea Mere, in Norfolk, 
on the 12th. of January, 1844; one also at Yarmouth, in 
the same county. In Essex, one was met with near Colchester. 
In Kent, a flock of eighteen appeared near Erith, on the 
estate of the Hon. W. T. T. Fiennes, and one of them, a 
female, was procured. Mr. W. Brooks Gates, of Derngate, 
Northampton, has informed me of the occurrence of a specimen 
in that lordship, in January, 1853. 
They appear, so to speak, to be far from shy in their wild 
state. In their habits they are sociable among themselves, 
and consort closely together in flocks. 
They fly well, and swim and dive with great dexterity. 
Their food is said to be composed of water-plants, small 
frogs, the fry of fish, insects, and crustacea; the last-named 
sought and found by diving or dipping the head under water. 
Their note is described as hoarse—in unison with their 
name, which is not euphoneous. 
The nest of this bird may be termed a bed of rushes. 
The eggs are stated to be six or seven in number, and of 
a uniform olive brown colour. 
‘The young are able to fly about the beginning of July; 
the female is much attached to her young, but the male 
leaves the nursery as soon as the female begins to sit.’ 
Male; length, one foot nine or ten inches; the bill is of a 
very rich vermilion red colour, the nail also red, but paler; iris, 
bright red. A crest of long elongated feathers of a silky 
texture and dull yellow colour surmounts the crown; head on 
the sides and neck on the upper part, rich chesnut brown 
with a tinge of rose red; nape and lower part of the neck, 
dark brownish black. Breast, rich dark blackish brown, the 
feathers on the sides edged with dusky brown and white; back, 
pale greyish or yellowish brown, with a spot on the sides, on 
the upper part near the neck, of white, tinged with rose red. 
The white patches are tinted, while the bird is living, with 
a most delicate and beautiful rose-colour. The same is the 
case with the other white parts of the plumage, but the tinge 
is more faint. 
The wings have a white patch at the joint; the first quill 
feather is the longest; greater and lesser wing coverts, greyish 
or yellowish brown; primaries, at the base, white tinged with 
rose-colour, the remainder greyish brown; the secondaries have 
the outer webs white, thus forming the speculum, which is 
