FULIGULA MARILA 215 



Iris white ; bill and feet dusky slate-colour. 



Adult female, general colour duller and paler than in the male, and 

 lacking the dark collar. 



The Ferruginous, or White-eyed Duck, is common in Tunisia 

 during the winter and spring months, and a certain number seem 

 to breed in the Regency, as individuals are constantly met with 

 in summer. Salvin appears to have found the species nesting in the 

 marshes of Zana and Djendeli, and Loche states that it is common 

 in all three provinces of Algeria, and is sedentary on the large lakes, 

 where it breeds among the rushes. According to Colonel Irby it is 

 also very numerous and breeds in Marocco. The species is more 

 or less abundant throughout the Mediterranean in winter, and during 

 the periods of migration, and breeds in some parts. In Sicily it is one 

 of the commonest species of Duck to be met with in winter and 

 spring, and is said to breed in the marshes near Catama. 



The Ferruginous Duck frequents fresh-water marshes and ponds 

 bordered with reeds and rushes in preference to the sea-coast and 

 more open waters. It is usually to be found in small parties or isolated 

 pairs, and is rather skulking and secretive in its habits, often hiding in 

 th(! thick aquatic vegetation. Its flight is not very rapid, and when 

 rising from the water, particularly heavy, but it swims and dives with 

 ease. It feeds chiefly on aquatic plants, but also on small molluscs, 

 worms and insects. Its note is said to be a harsh " kirr-kerr," repeated 

 twice. 



Its nest, placed, as a rule, among high rushes, is composed of dry 

 flags or similar material, lined with down, and its eggs, seven to 

 twelve in number, are pale buff, and measure about 53 x 39 mm. 



FULIGULA MARILA (Linn^us) 

 SCAUP-DUCK. 



Anas marila, Li7in. Syst. Nat. i, p. 196 (1766) ; Malherhe, Fauiic Orn. 



de I'Alg. p. 37 (1855). 

 Fuligula marila, Steph. Gen. Zool. xii, 2, p. 198 (1821) ; Salvadori, 



Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii, p. 355 ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 285. 

 Marila frenata, Loche, Expl. Sci. AUj. Ois. ii, p. 389 (1867) ; Koenig, 



J.f. 0. 1893, p. 95. 



