Long -tailed Duck. 491 



length, and curving from the top of the head down the neck 

 From Mr. Cordeaux we learn that it is known in Yorkshire as 

 the ' Brass-eyed Poker Duck/ in reference to the brilliant golden- 

 yellow of the eye, which is its most attractive feature ; and from 

 Mr. Cecil Smith that in Somersetshire it is the ' Curr Widgeon ' 

 and is the commonest there of all the Diving ducks, except 

 perhaps the Pochard, which is also dubbed ' Curr Widgeon ', but 

 elsewhere the ' Black Widgeon,' and is almost as much esteemed 

 for the table as that bird. In other places it is called the ' Small 

 Black Diver.' In Sweden it is the Vigg, or ' Wedge/ so called 

 because, when on the surface of the water, it almost always lies 

 with its neck stretched forwards, as if ready to dive ; whereby 

 the body assumes a somewhat wedge-like shape. In France it 

 is Canard Morillon ; in Germany Reiher-ente, 'Heron-duck.' 

 In Portugal this species is also called Negririha, from its dark 

 plumage. 



200. LONG-TAILED DUCK (Fuligula glacialis). 



I include this species in the Wiltshire list without hesitation, 

 as I do so on the authority of that excellent ornithologist, the 

 late Rev. George Marsh : otherwise I have no farther notice of 

 its appearance amongst us : indeed, as its specific name, glacialis, 

 'icy,' implies, it is a thoroughly Arctic bird, inhabiting and 

 breeding in, not only Lapland, Spitzbergen and Greenland, but 

 even the very highest latitudes to which our Polar expeditions 

 have penetrated. Moreover, as it is a true denizen of the ocean, 

 seldom coming inland, it is necessarily much more scarce in 

 England than either of its congeners previously described : and 

 yet hardly to be accounted a rare bird in Britain : as it is (though 

 in small numbers) a regular winter visitor to our northern coasts. 

 It is remarkable for the elongated tail-feathers, whence it derives 

 its name, and which are quite pheasant- like in appearance. It 

 is also called * Hareld ' in some places, and by some consigned to 

 a separate genus, Harelda, which appears to be an Icelandic 

 name. Montagu says it is provincially known as ' Coal and Candle 

 Light,' from a fancied resemblance of its long and plaintive winter 



