VELVET DUCK. 329 



mage: the legs are red on the outside, and deep yellow sprinkl- 

 ed with blackish on the inner sides; tail short and pointed. 



The female is very little less than the male; but differs con- 

 siderably in its markings. The bill is dusky, forehead and 

 cheeks white, under the eye dull brownish; behind that a large 

 oval spot of white; whole upper parts and neck dark brownish 

 drab; tips of the plumage lighter, secondaries white; wing quills 

 deep brown; belly brownish white; tail hoary brown; the throat 

 is white, marked with dusky specks; legs and feet yellow. 



Latham informs us that this species is sometimes seen on the 

 coast of England, but is not common there; that it inhabits Den- 

 mark and Russia, and in some parts of Siberia is very common. 

 It is also found at Kamtschatka, where it is said to breed, going 

 far inland to lay; the eggs are eight or ten, and white; the males 

 depart, and leave the females to remain with the young until 

 they are able to fly. In the river Ochotska they are so nume- 

 rous that a party of natives, consisting of fifty or more, go off 

 in boats and drive these ducks up the river before them, and 

 when the tide ebbs fall on them at once, and knock them on 

 the head with clubs, killing such numbers that each man has 

 twenty or thirty for his share. * 



* Hist. Kamtschatka, p. 160, 



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