OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 405 



Family ANATIDvE. Genus CHABITONETTA. 



Subfamily FuLWULlNM. 



BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 



CHAEITONBTTA ALBEOLA (Linnaus). 



Anas albeola, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 199 (1766). 



Clangula albeola (Linn.), Macgill. Brit. B. v. p. 185 (1852) ; Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 

 589, pi. 439 (1877) ; Yarrell, Brit. B. ed. 4, iv. p. 442 (1885) ; Dixon, Nests and 

 Eggs Non-indig. Brit. B. p. 178 (1894) ; Salvador!, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 385 

 (1895) ; Lilford, Col. Fig. Brit. B. pt. xxx (1895). 



Fuliffula albeola (Linn.), Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. 588 (1885) ; Lilford, Col. Fig. 

 Brit. B. pt. xi. (1889) ; Seebohm, Col. Fig. Eggs Brit. B. p. 48 (1896). 



Charitonetta albeola (Linn.), Sharpe, Handb. B. Gt. Brit. iii. p. 24 (1896). 



Geographical distribution British : The Buffel-headed Duck is a 

 very rare straggler to our Islands. Its claim to rank as " British " rests on the 

 following evidence : England: Norfolk (one example) , winter, 1830 ; Yorkshire 

 (one example), winter, 1864-65. Scotland : Aberdeenshire (one example), January, 

 1865 ; Loch Strathbeg (one example), no date. Ireland : Although there is some 

 evidence that this species has visited Ireland, nothing can be stated positively 

 until an example be secured. Foreign : Northern Nearctic region ; more southerly 

 in winter. It breeds throughout Arctic America up to the limit of forest growth, 

 and as far south as Maine and Wisconsin. It winters in the United States, 

 California, the West Indies, and Mexico, and occasionally visits the Bermudas on 

 abnormal passage, whilst it has occurred in Greenland on the east and Behring 

 Island on the west. 



Allied forms. None nearer than Clangula glaucion and allied races, the 

 former a British species, and dealt with fully in the following chapter. 



Habits. So far as they are known the habits of the Buffel-headed Duck 

 resemble very closely those of its near ally, the Golden-eye. Like that species it 

 is much attached to inland waters, and only appears to seek the sea when its 

 other retreats are sealed by ice. It flies well and strongly, swims quickly, and 

 dives with such astounding speed that in some localities it is known by the name 

 of " Spirit Duck." Its note is a somewhat grating and feeble Tturr. The food of 



