344 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 



curing a specimen. They were not numerous, and seemed to 

 go singly or in pairs ; and I never saw more than two together, 

 more frequently single birds. I watched a fine old male one 

 day, for a long time, feeding by himself in the middle of a 

 small lake, but always safely out of shot; he was diving 

 strongly and vigorously, dashing himself under the water, 

 where he remained a considerable time. Their peculiar atti- 

 tude in the water, along with their short, broad, pale-blue 

 bill, gives them a most quaint appearance. 



222. FULIGULA RUFINA. 



This bird, I think, arrives with the other other Ducks and 

 spends the winter in the island : as early in March they were 

 moderately common at Oristano. The males have a peculiarly 

 handsome appearance on the water, with their bright-red 

 bills and black breast-plates shining and glistening in the sun 

 as if they were polished. " Some breed on the little island of 

 the stagno of c Scaffa ' amongst the reeds and canes " (Sal- 

 vadori) . 



223. FlJLIGULA FERINA. 



Abundant in winter. 



224. FULIGULA NYROCA. 



Amongst the crowds of Ducks on the different stagnos I 

 never could distinguish this species, and I think it is one of the 

 rarest. It is included in both Cara's and Salvadori's lists. 



225. FlJLIGULA MARILA. 



Of accidental occurrence. 



226. FULIGULA CRISTATA. 



This, I think, is the most numerous of the Anatidse in Sar- 

 dinia : they are to be seen sitting by hundreds ou all the 

 stagnos, generally mixed up with Mallards, Pochards, Com- 

 mon Teal, Garganeys, Pintails, Gadwalls, Coots, &c, with 

 occasionally a single Erismatura leucocephala bobbing up 

 and down with his white shining head in the middle. 



227. Glaucion clangula. 



This Duck is not very common. I saw a few fine adult 

 males near Oristano. 



