356 NATATORES. FULIGULA. SCAUP POCHARD. 



soon becomes tame, and, if provided with water, thrives well 

 upon grain, and other food eaten by poultry, and, under this 

 regimen, its flesh is said to improve in flavour, and not to be 

 inferior to that of the Wild Duck. It makes a hoarse grunt- 

 ing sort of noise, and has a singular habit of tossing up its 

 head, and opening the bill, which, MONTAGU observes, is par- 

 ticularly the case during spring, whilst it is swimming and 

 sporting on the water. The trachea of the adult male is of 

 considerable diameter for three-fourths of its length, and is 

 composed of semi-cylindrical rings, united by a membrane, 

 which makes up the measure of the tube ; and, about an 

 inch above the lower larynx, where it is greatly contracted, 

 these rings become entire. The labyrinthian part, as in the 

 other species, consists of a bulging and strongly-ribbed orca 

 or box, on the same line as the tracheal tube, and a tympa- 

 num or drum, rather narrower and higher than that of Fu- 

 ligula ferina, and having the bony arch, which divides and 

 supports the membrane on its outer face, somewhat different 

 in proportions and form. 



PLATE 66. represents the Adult Male of the natural size. 

 General Head and upper part of the neck blackish-green, with 

 tion. rich glossy reflections. Lower part of neck, breast, 



Male. an( j rum p deep black. Mantle and scapulars greyish- 



white, with fine distant zigzag black lines. Lesser wing 



coverts black, with transverse zigzag white lines. Second- 

 ary quills white, with black tips, forming a bar or spe- 

 culum across the wings. Belly and flanks white. Ab- 

 domen rayed with lines of blackish-grey. Bill clear 

 greyish-blue, broad and spathulate, with the nail black. 

 Irides kingVyellow. Legs and toes bluish-grey, the 

 joints and webs being darker. 



PLATE 66*. 



Female. In the female (formerly supposed a distinct species, under 

 the title of Anas frcenata\ the bill is of a deep-grey 



