( 324 ) 



This bird is very closely allied to the preceding, so nearly that 

 it has been overlooked and confounded with that species by our 

 most eminent Ornithologists. On a close investigation, we find 

 well defined specific characters in marking, &c, as well as infe- 

 riority in point of size. The Lesser Scaup Duck is well known 

 to the bay gunners by the name of " Creek Broad-Bill," from its 

 habit of frequenting the small streams, while the Scaup Duck [F. 

 marila) is usually observed on the open bays. It is a very abun- 

 dant species, and during Autumn and the early part of Spring, is 

 quite common along the middle Atlantic districts, as well as on the 

 streams in the interior. Its choice of food, migrations and breed- 

 ing range, are similar to the former. 



FULIGULA RUFITORQUES— BONAP. 



RING-NECKED OR TUFTED DUCK. 



Tufted Duck, Anas Fuligula, Wils. 



Ring-necked Duck, Anas (Fuligula) rufitorques, Sw. & Rich. 

 Ring-necked Duck, Fuligula rufi torques, Nutt. 

 Ring-necked Duck, Fuligula rufitorques, Aud. 



Specific Character — Head tufted ; bill about two inches long, 

 very high at the base, the ridge at the base unusually broad, at 

 the base margined with a rather broad band of yellowish green, a 

 broader band of the same color between the nostrils and the tip, 

 the remaining part of the bill dark slate color ; chin white ; spec- 

 ulum or wing spot bluish-gray. Adult male with the plumage of 

 the head and upper part of the neck black, with purple reflections ; 

 at the base of the lower mandible a triangular white spot ; the mid- 

 dle of the neck encircled with chestnut ; the upper part of the breast 

 black ; abdomen white, spotted with brown and tinged with yel- 

 low ; flanks ash-gray, undulated with lines of white and dusky; 

 vent and lower part of the abdomen dark brown, undulated with 

 faint lines of white ; lower tail-coverts blackish-brown, tail brown ; 

 upper tail-coverts darker ; back blackish-brown ; primaries the same 



