SPECIES 23. ANtfS ALBEQLA. 



BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 

 [Plate LX VII. Fig. 2, Male. Fig. 3, Female.] 



La Sarcellede la Louisiane, BRISS. \i t pA6\ t pl.41,Jig. 1. Lepetil 

 Canard cl grosse ttfe, BUFF, ix, p. 249. EDW. pL 100. Jlrct. 

 Zool. No. 487. CATESBY, i, 95. LATH. Syn. in, p. 533. 

 PKALE'S Museum, JV*o. 2730.* 



THIS pretty little species, usually known by the name of the 

 Butter-box, or Butter-ball, is common to the seashores, rivers 

 and lakes of the United States, in every quarter of the country, 

 during autumn and winter. About the middle of April, or early 

 in May, they retire to the north to breed. They are dexterous 

 divers, and fly with extraordinary velocity. So early as the latter 

 part of February the males are observed to have violent disputes 

 for the females; at this time they are more commonly seen in 

 flocks; but during the preceding part of winter they usually 

 fly in pairs. Their note is a short quack. They feed much on 

 shell fish, shrimps, &c. They are sometimes exceedingly fal ; 

 though their flesh is inferior to many others for the table. The 

 male exceeds the female in size, and greatly in beauty of 

 plumage. 



The Buffet-headed Duck, or rather as it has originally been, 

 the Buffaloe-headed Duck, from the disproportionate size of 

 its head, is fourteen inches long, and twenty-three inches in ex- 

 tent; the bill is short, and of a light blue or leaden colour; the 

 plumage of the head and half of the neck is thick, long and 

 velvetty, projecting greatly over the lower part of the neck; 

 this plumage on the forehead and nape is rich glossy green 

 changing into a shining purple on the crown and sides of the 



* Le Canard d'ltyvei , Bmss.vi, ;>. 349; La suuellc dt la Caroline, Id. p. 461. 



