BUFFLE-BEAD DUCK BUTTER BALL. 197 



CHAPTER XXL 



BUFFLE-HEAD DUCK BUTTER BALL. 



(Fuligula Alveola.) 



Adult Male. Bill much shorter than the head, com- 

 paratively narrow, deeper than broad at the base, 

 gradually depressed at the end, which is rounded. 



Head rather large, compressed ; eyes of moderate 

 size ; neck, short and thick ; body compact, depressed ; 

 feet very short, placed far back; tarsus very short,, 

 compressed. 



Plumage, dense, soft and blended ; feathers on the 

 fore part of the head very small and rounded ; on the 

 upper and hind parts, linear and elongated, as they also 

 are on the lateral and hind parts of the upper neck, so 

 that when raised, they give the head an extremely 

 tumid appearance, which is more marked that the 

 feathers of the neck immediately beneath are short. 

 Wings, very small, decurved, pointed, and tail short, 

 graduated, of sixteen feathers. Bill, light grayish blue ; 

 iris, hazel ; feet, very pale flesh color : claws, brownish 

 black ; fore part of the head a deep rich green ; upper 

 part rich bluish purple, of which color also are the 

 elongated feathers on the fore part and sides of the neck, 

 the hind part of the latter deep green, a broad band of 

 pure white from one cheek to the other over the oc- 

 ciput ; the colored part of the head and neck are re- 



