BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK, OR BUTTER-BALL. 



321 



greatly over the lower part of the neck ; this plumage on the fore- 

 head and nape is rich glossy green, changing into a shining purple 

 on the crown and sides of the n^ck ; from the eyes backward passes 

 a broad band of pure white ; iris of the eye dark ; back, wings, 

 and part of the scapulars, black ; rest of the scapulars, lateral band 

 along the wing, and whole breast, snowy white ; belly, vent, and 

 tail-coverts, dusky white ; tail pointed, and of a hoary color. 



"The female is considerably less than the male, and entirely 

 destitute of the tumid plumage of the head : the head, neck, and 

 upper parts of the body and wings are sooty black, darkest on the 

 crown ; sides of the head marked with a small oblong spot of 

 white ; bill dusky ; lower part of the neck ash, tipped with white ; 

 belly dull white ; vent cinereous ; outer edges of six of the secon- 

 daries and their incumbent coverts white, except the tips of the 

 latter, which are black ; legs and feet a livid blue ; tail hoary 

 brown." 



