TUFTED DUCK. 117 



they are invariably seen to rise against the wind. In a calm they get 

 up with considerable fluttering. 



The Blue-bills when disturbed by the fishermen along the Jersey shore, 

 in the spring, resort to other feeding places ; and they are frequently 

 observed a short distance below the Philadelphia Navy-yard, particu- 

 larly at the time when their favorite snail-shells begin to crawl up the 

 muddy shore for the purpose of breeding. Though often seen feeding 

 in places where they can reach the bottom with their bills, yet they sel- 

 dom venture on the shore, the labor of walking appearing repugnant to 

 their inclinations. When wounded they will never take to the land if 

 they can possibly avoid it ; and when compelled to walk they waddle 

 along in the awkward manner of those birds whose legs, placed far 

 behind, do not admit of a free and graceful progression. 



Species XXI. Al^AS FULIGULA* 



TUFTED DUCK. 



[Plate LXVII. Fig. 5 ] 



Arc*.. Zool. p. 573. — Le petit MoriUon, Briss. vi., 411, 26, pi. 37, I.^Buff. ix., p. 

 227, 231, pi. 15.— Lath. Syn. in., p. 540. 



This is an inhabitant of both continents ; it frequents fresh-water 

 rivers, and seldom visits the seashore. It is a plump, short-bodied 

 Duck ; its flesh generally tender, and well tasted. They are much 

 rarer than most of our other species, and are seldom seen in market. 

 They are most common about the beginning of winter, and early in the 

 spring. Being birds of passage they leave us entirely during the 

 summer. 



The Tufted Duck is seventeen inches long, and two feet two inches in 

 e.xtent ; the bill is broad and of a dusky color, sometimes marked round 

 the nostrils and sides with light blue ; head crested, or tufted, as its 

 name expresses, and of a black color, with reflections of purple ; neck 

 marked near its middle by a band of deep chestnut; lower part of the 

 neck black, which spreads quite round to the back ; back and scapulars 

 black, minutely powdered with particles of white, not to be observed 

 but on a near inspection ; rump and vent also black ; wings ashy brown ; 

 secondaries pale ash or bluish white ; tertials black, reflecting green ; 

 lower part of the breast and whole belly white ; flanks crossed with fine 



* Anas rufitorques, Bonaparte, Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia, in., p. 385 ; pi. 13, fig. 6, the trachea. 



