OF BIRDS, 339 



diver, and expert in getting out of danger on the fight -of a gun ; 

 becoming invifible, with the fpced of an arrow, the moment 

 the fire flafhcs in the pan. 



3. The St. Cuthberfs Duck (c) is a beautiful native of the ifland 

 of Farn, the monadic retreat of St. Cuthbert, with whofe name it 

 has been honoured by thofe two eminent ornithologies, Mr. Ray, 

 and Francis Willoughby, Efq; who in their travels through England, 

 heard of it no where but here ; preferved fpecimens of the male 

 and female being fhewn to Mr. Ray by Sir William Forjler, of Eam- 

 brough. They are both larger than a domeftic duck ; the eyes 

 bright and piercing ; the beak of a femicylindric form, obtufc 

 at the extremity, ferrated on the fides, with a rough membrane 

 at the bafe, and feathers extending from the head below the 

 noilrils. The crown of the male is black, edged behind with a 

 changeable glow of green ; the neck, breaft, back, and three 

 fail-feathers in each wing are a bright white ; the reft of the plu- 

 mage jet-black, throughout. The female is grey, variegated 

 with brown and black fpots, with a narrow tranfverfe line of 

 white in each wing. They are remarkable for their foft plumage, 

 and large well-flavoured eggs. In winter they frequent the 

 large rivers. . The male here dcfcribed was mot in the river Tyne t 

 near Hexham, in a hard froft, and prefented to me. 



4. The Sheldrake, Bergander, or Burrough-Duch (d)^ is alfo a na- 

 tive of the ifland of Farn. It is larger than a common duck, 



The 



(c) Anas plumis moliflimis, vulgo EIDER. Bartb. ASt. i. p. 90. Worm. .Muf. p. 310. 

 Anas CUTHBERTI f. FARNENSIS. Will. Orn. p. 278. Raj. Av. p. 141. n. 3. Anas roflro 

 femicylindrico; ungue obtufo ; cera fuperne bifida rugofa. Linn. Faun. Succ. p. 33. 11.94. 



(d) Tadorna. Eellm, Av. Will. Orn. p. 278. t. 70. Raj. Av. p. 140. n. i. Vulpanfer. 

 ftt/a/cuniculorum/wV, tf rupiurn cavernh, nure vulpis, nidulatiir, BERGANDER. BUR- 



X x 2 ROUGH- 



