THE TUFTED DUCK. 113 



about, who would swim for and bring the ducks to land. One 

 fine manly little fellow at once engaged to do so, and swam out 

 boldly — perhaps more so than his strength warranted — until 

 near the middle of the river ; when, being almost within reach of 

 the bird, he became faint, either from the cold of the water or over- 

 exertion, and for some time I greatly feared for his safety. But his 

 spirit was not to be beaten ; he rallied, — at a few more bold strokes 

 laid hold of both ducks, and returned safely with them to the shore. 



In my young days, a duck, most probably of this species, came, 

 in the month of October, to a pond at Wolf-hill, covering, per- 

 haps, an English acre — I have obtained tufted ducks killed on 

 still smaller ponds — and remained about a week. Such an occur- 

 rence being quite a novelty, the members of the family were so 

 pleased watching the bird, that care was taken it should not be 

 disturbed. The visitor then departed, and, as was feared, alto- 

 gether ; but not so, for it soon returned with two or three com- 

 panions. After remaining for a short time, they all went off and 

 reappeared in a day or two, when the number was increased to 

 seven or eight, which continued there for two or three weeks. So 

 persecuted are these poor birds almost everywhere they appear, 

 that it is interesting thus to see how they avail themselves of a 

 locality in which they are unmolested. A female bird of this 

 species, kept in the pond at the Palls, with a number of other 

 wild-fowl, was of a gentle, quiet disposition. 



I am informed by Mr. E. Ball, that " three pinioned tufted ducks 

 have been for some years on the pond at the Royal Zoological 

 Society^s Gardens, DubHn. They keep out as far from the sides 

 of the pond as possible, and in winter are joined by a flock of 

 from five to ten wild males and several females. Thirteen males 

 have occasionally been counted ; the females, being mixed with 

 the various species on the pond, were not so easily reckoned, but 

 appeared not to be so numerous. The wild birds stay four or 

 five months. Last week (the communication is dated November 

 13, 1848) five arrived. They seem generally to be in pairs.^' 



On the 17th June, 1834, a fresh specimen of a fine old male, 

 killed near Lough Neagh, came under my inspection, and, from 



