358 TUFTED DUCK. 



a comparative description of the two birds, and named the sub- 

 ject of this article rufitorques. 



The American Tufted Duck is said to be common on the 

 Ohio, and the Mississippi; Messieurs Say and Peale procured 

 it on the Missouri; Lewis and Clark shot it on the Columbia;* 

 and myself in East Florida. It is, properly speaking, a fresh 

 water Duck, although it is sometimes found on the coast. On 

 the Delaware we observe it in the spring and autumn; and, if 

 the weather be moderate, we see it occasionally throughout the 

 winter. With us it is not a numerous species; and is rather a 

 solitary bird, seldom more than four or five being found together. 

 It is more common in the month of March than at any other 

 time. It is a plump, short-bodied Duck; its flesh tender, and 

 well tasted; but in no respect to be compared to that of the 

 Canvass-back; it is even inferior to the Mallard. 



The American Tufted Duck is seventeen inches long, and 

 twenty-seven inches in br .jdth; the bill is broad, of a dull blu- 

 ish ash colour, the base of the upper mandible marked with a 

 stripe of pure white, which extends along its edges, and then 

 forms a wider band across near the tip, which is of a deep black 

 this white band changes after death to gray or bluish white; 

 irides rich orange; a spot of white on the chin; head tufted, and, 

 with the upper part of the neck, black, with reflections of rich 

 purple, predominating on the back part of the neck; about the 

 middle of the neck there is an interrupted band of a rich deep 

 glossy chestnut; throat, lower part of the neck, breast, back, 

 scapulars, rump, and tail-coverts, of a silky brownish black; 

 primaries and wing-coverts brown; tertials dark brown, with 

 strong reflections of green; secondaries pale ash, or bluish white, 

 forming the speculum, some tipt with brown and others with 

 white; back and scapulars powdered with particles of dull white, 

 not to be observed but on a near inspection, and presenting the 

 appearance of dust; lower part of the breast, and whole belly, 

 white, with a yellowish tinge; vent dusky; sides under the 



* Hist, of the Exped. vol. n, p. 195, 8vo. 



