NATATORES — ANATID.E — FULIGULA. 329 



The Old-wife, or Old-squaw, is one- of the most common and least valued of the genus. 

 They appear on our coast in the autumn in immense flocks, and almost cover the surface of 

 our bays in the coldest and severest weather during the winter. They breed from Labrador 

 to the Polar sea. In the autumn they descend along the Atlantic coast, and are resident 

 during the winter from Maine to Mississippi. It occurs also along the coast of the Pacific, 

 and is common to America and Europe- 



(4.) Bill short, narrow, elevated at the base : tail long, usually composed of sixteen feathers. 



Clangula. 



THE BUFFLE-HEADED DUCK. 



FULIGULA ALBEOLA. 

 PLATE CXVIII. FIG. 862. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Anas albeola, LiKNaws, p. 199. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 558. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 8, p. 51, pi. 67, 



fig. 2 and 3 (male and female). 

 Fuligula (Clangula) id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 394. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol.2, p. 458. 



Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 445. 

 F. id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 309, pi. 408 (mule and female). Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 335. 



Characteristics. Mirror and under wing-coverts white : tail rounded. Male, black and 

 white ; head tumid, purplish green : a large white patch passing over 

 the head to each eye. Female, sooty black, with a white spot on each 

 side of the head ; beneath white. Length, 13' 5. 



Description. Bill short, narrow, compressed on each side, pitted above near the tip, 

 which is very small ; length from above 1 • 1 : a suture along the margin of the upper man- 

 dible. Tarsus 1 3 : middle and outer toes subequal, 2*2. Feathers on the head of the male 

 linear and elongated, forming a subcrest. 



Color. Male : Front, space before the eyes, chin and upper part of the throat, and occi- 

 put glossy green ; neck and crown purple ; sides of the neck brassy green. A broad band 

 of white over the head, extending from one eve to the other. Lower part of the neck, shoul- 

 ders, exterior scapulars, coverts, outer webs of secondaries, and all beneath white. Back, 

 the long scapulars and tertiaries velvet-black. Quills deep black. Bill bluish black : legs 

 yellowish. Female : Head and all above dark blackish brown ; beneath white ; greyish 

 brown on the flanks. A small short white band beneath the eye. Six of the secondary quills 

 white on the outer web. 



Length, 13-0-14/CV 



This little duck is known under the various popular names of Little Dipper, Diedipper, 

 Butter-bill, Butter-box, and Spirit Duck. The male and female vary so much in their 

 [Fauna— Part 2.] 42 



