FULIGULA FULIGULA 217 



FULIGULA FULIGULA (Linuteus). 

 TUFTED DUCK. 



Anas fuligula, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 207 (17G6) ; Malhcrbc, Faune Orn. 



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

 Fuligula fuligula., LicJU. Xomencl, Avium, p. 102 (1854) ; Salvadori, Cat. 



Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii, p. 363. 

 Fuligula cristata, Loclie, Expl. Set. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 388 (1867); Koenuj, 



J. f. 0. 1888, p. 285 ; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 95. 



Description, — Adult male, winter, from North Tunisia. 



Head, neck, breast, and upper plumage generally black, the head with a 

 tuft of glossy purplish-black feathers hanging down from the occiput ; sides 

 of the head and neck also glossed with purple and green ; back very finely 

 marked with minute whitish spots ; speculum white tipped with black ; 

 secondaries slightly glossed with green; abdomen white, becoming grey 

 lower down, and black on the under tail-coverts. 



Iris yellow; bill bluish- slate-colour tipped with black; feet greenish-black. 



Total length 16 inches, wing 8, culmen 1-70, tarsus 1-25. 



Adult female, general colour of the upperparts blackish-brown, the 

 forehead marked with dull white, crest short, and underparts greyish. 



The Tufted Duck is not uncommou in Tunisia during the winter 

 months, and may be met with on all the lakes in the north of the 

 Regency. Salvin found it numerous in March on the Lake of Bizerta. 

 Loche states that the species is very common in Algeria (presumably 

 in winter), and Favier says that it is very abundant in some years 

 near Tangier, arriving in November and leaving in February, though 

 not to be met with in other years. The species is very plentiful in 

 some parts of Italy during tlie winter months, and according to seme 

 authorities, nests there in limited numbers, though conclusive evidence 

 on this point is wanting. 



The Tufted Duck frequents both fresh and salt water, and in 

 winter may be found more often perhaps on the sea-coast or near the 

 sea than on inland waters. It is gregarious and consorts with other 

 Ducks as well as with those of its own kind. It flies well, is an 

 expert at swimming and diving, and is able to remain under water for 

 some time. Its call-note is low and guttural. Its food is the same 

 as that of other allied species. 



