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CLANGULA. ALBEOLA (Stephens). 



THE BUPPLB-HBADBD DUCK : BUTTBRBALL. 



Specific Gharacter. — Adult male. — Head and upper half of the neck rich 

 silky metallic green, violet purple, and greenish bronze, the last prevailing on the 

 lower part of the neck, the green on the anterior part of the head, the purple on 

 the cheeks and crown ; a large patch of pure white on the side of the head ex- 

 tending back to and around the occiput ; lower half of the neck, lower parts 

 generally, wing coverts, secondaries, and outer scapulars pure white, the latter 

 narrowly, and the feathers of the flank more widely edged with black ; posterior 

 parts of body tinged beneath with pale ashy gray ; upper tail coverts light hoary 

 gray ; tail slaty gray the shafts black ; bill bluish, plumbeous dusky on the nail 

 ^and at base ; iris very dark brown ; legs and feet pinkish or lilaceous white. 



Total length about 14.50 inches ; extent 24.50 ; wing 6.75 ; culmen 1.10 ; 

 ^tarsus 1.30 ; middle toe 1.90. 



Adult female — Head, neck and upper parts generally dusky grayish brown ; 

 -an oblong or somewhat ovate white longitudinal patch on the auricular region, 

 and the inner secondaries (sometimes also the greater wing coverts except at the 

 ends) white ; lower parts white tinged with brownish gray posteriorly, anter- 

 iorly, and laterally. Bill dusky inclining to plumbeous at the end and along 

 commissure ; iris very dark brown ; legs and toes dilute lilac pink, the webs and 

 joints darker. Length about 12.50 inches. 



Habitat — North America, breeding northerly, migrating south in winter to 

 Cuba and Mexico. 



The buffle-headed duck is essentially a North American bird, being only 

 ;accidental, if found elsewhere. It is a handsome little fellow in its spring plum- 

 ;age and is quite abundant in all the waters of Ontario, during its migrations. 

 Jt is an expert diver, finds its food almost anywhere, and becomes very fat, hence 

 - the name " Butterball " but as it is so small it is not much sought after, besides 

 its flesh is fishy. The Indians call it the " Spirit Ouck." Its food consists of 

 small fish. This bird also breeds in the hollow of a tree and the female lays 

 .from 6 to 10 eggs of an ivory white colour. 



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