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 THE RING-NECKED DUCK. 



FULIGULA RUFITORQUES, BoNAP. 

 PLATE CCXXXIV. Male add Female. 



The Ring-necked Duck is abundant on all our western waters during 

 autumn and winter. It is also met with along our Atlantic coasts ; but 

 there, although I have seen many individuals on the Chesapeake and 

 other large arms of the sea, it is by no means so plentiful as in the inte- 

 rior. Its flesh is excellent, equalling in my opinion that of any other 

 duck ; and when it has been feeding along the margins of rivers, creeks, 

 or ponds for a few weeks, it becomes very fat, tender, and juicy, and has 

 none of the fishy flavour of those species which are in the habit of diving 

 deep for their food. In shape, the Tufted Duck, or Ring-bill, as it is 

 called in Kentucky, resembles the Scaup or Flocking Fowl, but is plumper 

 and more rounded. 



This bird arrives in Kentucky and the neighbouring States, as far 

 down the Mississippi as New Orleans, from the 20th of September to the 

 middle of October, at which latter period it may be found in th? whole 

 extent of the Union, from Massachusetts to Louisiana, being more nume- 

 rous in some districts than in others, according to the suitableness of the 

 place. They commonly move while on wing in flocks of from fifteen to 

 twenty individuals, keeping rather scattered, and thus rarely affording 

 what is called a good shot. They fly with rapidity, keeping at a con- 

 siderable height, and the motion of their wings produces a constant whist- 

 ling as they pass over head. Before alighting, they wheel and perform 

 various evolutions, although they do not occupy so much time with them 

 as Teals are wont to do. 



They swim rather lightly and with ease, and, unlike the Scaups, ex- 

 perience no difficulty in rising on wing, whether from the land or from 

 the water, but generally spring up at once, especially if alarmed. They 

 have an almost constant practice of raising the head in a curved manner, 

 partially erecting the occipital feathers, and emitting a note resembling 

 the sound produced by a person blowing through a tube. At the ap- 

 proach of spring the males are observed repeating this action every now. 



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