DUCK IN GENERAL AND IN PARTICULAR 5 



THE TUFTED DUCK (Fuligula cristata) 



This duck, length about 1 7 inches, is to be recog- 

 nised by the tuft of elongated feathers at the back of 

 the head. The male has the breast and all the upper 

 part of a metallic black, and the under plumage pure 

 white ; the female is dark brown above, and a greyish 

 white below. The tufted duck nests in many parts 

 of our islands. Migrants reach us towards the end 

 of October. The majority of these migrants at once 

 work their way inland, making fresh water their 

 winter home. They are usually found in pairs, or in 

 small bunches of not more than five or six. During 

 certain seasons they are very abundant in favoured 

 districts. The tufted duck is one of the least wary 

 of all its tribe. When killed on fresh water it is 

 excellent for the table, but a bird that has been gain- 

 ing its living on salt water is condemned by many as 

 being unpleasantly rank in flavour. The tufted duck 

 will swim rather than fly from approaching danger, a 

 habit that very often leads to its death at the hands 

 of inland sportsmen ; for, when sighted on river, 

 stream, or dyke, far out of shot, and yet so near that 

 mallard similarly situated would be up and off in a 

 moment, the tufted duck will merely paddle swiftly 



