1822.] Bewick’s History of British Birds. 305 
Lough Diver-—Much confusion prevails with regard to the 
distinction between this and the duck called castaneous ; we do 
not pretend to unravel it. A description of the bird is given in 
the body of the work. The same may be said of the next: 
Anas Canadensis—Lin. Oie i Cravate—Buf. Canada goose. 
An occasional visitor. It forms a suitable enough companion, 
though it greatly exceeds in size the one on the o posite page. 
Anas Albifrons—Lin. Oie Rieuse—Buf. jhite fronted 
goose. 
Anas Nyraca—Lin. (Gmel.) Castaneous duck. Mr. BR. 
calls this the castaneous duck, we know not upon what autho~- 
rity. It seems to be the ferruginous duck of Pennant and 
Montagu, the tufted duck, var. O. of Latham, the olive tufted 
duck, Brit. Miscell. This it is to muluply names. 
Anas Moschata—Lin. Canard musque—Buf. Musk duck. 
From the great size of this duck, the ease of rearing it, and its 
superiority to the common duck, it is rather surprising that it 
has not been more generally cultivated. It is pugnacious, es- 
pecially the male, sparring and striking somewhat after the man- 
ner of our common poultry. Its gait is freer than the tame 
duck, the feet being placed nearer the centre of the body; its 
movements more alert, manner more restless, but more reserved. 
A useful hybrid is produced between it and the tame duck. It 
would form a valuable acquisition to rural and household eco- 
nomy; so probably might the eider be made were due pains 
taken. 
The bird figured as the young of the Larus Rissa—Lin. or 
kittiwake,* will proclaim its lineage at once, without the aid of 
description. To those who with us have seen myriads of these 
beauteous inoffensive creatures peopling the stupendous cliffs 
that raise their front to heaven amid the north sea foam, this 
living breathing likeness will bring to mind many a pleasant 
scene “ traversed so oft in life’s morning march.” The bird fi- 
gured in Montagu’s Appendix as the L. Minutus or little gull of 
Gmelin and Pallas, we agree with Mr. B. in considering an in- 
dividual of this very species, in a different, perhaps more ad- 
vanced stage of plumage. Indeed it is more than doubtful 
whether the L. Minutus has ever been authenticated as a British 
bird. We would here hazard a doubt as to the advantage re- 
sulting from that propensity which inclines some to seize upon 
_* In the last volume of the Transactions of the Wernerian Natural History So- 
ciety is an interesting account of Fowla, one of the Zetland Islands, by Capt. Vetch, of 
the corps of Royal Engineers. In the ornithological part of it are some particulars re- 
specting the kittiwake. He supposes it a “ habit of this bird to prefer covered places 
of breeding,” from their congregating in a natural arch. We are disposed to regard it 
as an instance of what we have already alluded to, namely locality modifying habit. The 
kittiwake in general affects mural, open, and exposed precipices for the purpose of ni- 
dification. Amongst others, we would instance Noss Head and Barrafirth, two of its 
most favourite resorts in the Zetland Islands. 
New Series, vou. 1v. x 
