ANATIN.E — THE DI.TKS — CLANGULA. 



49 



VIII. 1814, 



. Biog. IV. 



A. II. 18;51, 

 no. 727. 

 JouEs, Ki'y, 



TliL're is very little variation among the niiiles of this .species. Tlie females vary in the mark- 

 ings of the wiiij:, some having the greater ct)verts white, tipped with dusky ; while in others only 

 the inner secondaries are white. 



This species, peculiiir to this continent, Imt of ticciilentiil or occasional occurrence 

 in Europe, has an extended distribution throuL(hout North America, being found in 

 winter in the more southern States, in the West India Islands, and on both coasts of 

 Mexico. It goes as far north as Greenland on the northeast, and Alaska on the 

 northwest, coast. 



An adult female specimen was obtained at Godthaab, in Greenland, by the elder 

 lieinhardt. Mr. Bernard Koss met with it throughout the whole valley of the Alac- 



Mexico. 

 een, viukt- 



jreen on tlic 

 vhite on llio 

 lack to aiiil 

 lower piirt? 

 !r scajtulars 

 thers of tlio 

 iterior pints 

 ;ray ; \\\>Y^f 

 •, the Av.\\'\> 

 ;ie nail iitnl 

 ■t pinkish, 

 ,')0 ini'liis; 

 1.15 ; till- 

 null-: Ihad, 

 <h brown ; 

 ilinal patcb 

 :iries (soiiii'- 

 nt ends), 

 iwnish ^.'liiy 

 isky, incliii- 

 issure ; iris 

 ic-jiink. till' 

 ,.50 inches ; 



I 



FrimUe (nntuml size). 



tenzie, to the very mouth of that river. It was taken on the Saskatchewan by 

 |Cai)tain Blakiston, who also received it from Hudson's Bay. 



This species is said by Dr. Bichardson to fre(]ueMt the rivers and fresh-water lakes 

 tlu'oughout the Fur Countries in great nmubers. It is very far from being shy, will 

 ftllow the sportsnum to ajiproach quite near, and then dives so dexterously at the 

 flash of the gun, and is so very dithcult to kill, that the natives believe it to possess 

 tupernatural powers, and call it the "Spirit Duck."' 



. Mr. Dall nu'utions it as not uin-ommon on the Yukon, where it breeds. It is 

 tbundant at the mouth of the Yukon Biver, where there are no trees except scrubby 

 willows and alders, and it probably breeds there. Specimens wi-re obtained by Mr. 

 Bischoff at Sitka. It was found on Vancouver Island by Mr. \\. Browne. 



Dr. Cooper writes that he has found this little Duck very abundant throughout 

 California, and that he has traced it as far north as latitude 49° during the colder 

 aionths. It arrives in California about October, and remains as far south as San 

 Diego as late as April 20. It is known to frecpient both fresh and salt water; and 

 Items to obtain an abundance of food everywhere, becoming so very fat as to acquire 

 Ijlie general appellatit)n of " Butter-ball."' Its expertness in diving enables it to 



)tain food in deep water more readily than most other Ducks. 

 Dr. Gundlach mentions this species as a visitant to Cuba ; and Major Wedd^rbam 



VOL. It. — 7 



