TUFTED DUCK 123 



Adult winter, male and female. Similar to the respective 

 nuptial plumage. 



Immature, male and female. Bears a general resem- 

 blance to the female plumage, but the shades are duller. 



BEAK. Deep slate-colour. 



FEET. Deep slate-colour, but webs darker. 



IBIDES. White, commonly called ' pearl/ 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH ... ,' 16 in. 



WING 7-75,, 



BEAK ,. 2'25 



TARSO-METATAESUS 1-2 ,, 



EGG 2-1 x 1'5 in. 



Allied Species and Representative Forms. F. bceri is the 

 genuine Eastern representative. 



TUFTED DUCK. Fuligula cristata (Leach). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, ' Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, 

 pi. 23; Dresser, 'Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pi. 437; 

 Lilford, ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 47. 



This familiar species, known to sportsmen as the 

 ' Magpie Diver,' is generally distributed over the British 

 Isles. It is resident in many counties, and its numbers are 

 largely increased in winter by migrants from northern 

 latitudes. The winter-visitors do not as a rule become 

 plentiful until December ; about April they take their 

 departure for colder regions. 



The Tufted Duck is, on the whole, fonder of fresh than 

 of salt water. It is not commonly met with on the open 

 sea, though limited numbers frequent bays and estuaries. I 

 have generally seeri this Duck in small parties of from five 

 to twenty birds, never in great flocks like Wigeon or Scaup. 



The adult male is easily identified when swimming un- 

 suspiciously on a lake, by his white flanks and black upper 

 plumage. By creeping cautiously to the water's edge and 



