144 



ANATID-E, 



its not having the sh'ghtest appearance of any previous wounds, 

 suggested that it might possibly have remained there for the 

 purpose of breeding. I could not learn whether or not a second 

 bird had been seen. 



On looking to the food contained in thirteen of these ducks, 

 killed from November to March in different years, I found those 

 from fresh-water to exhibit the seeds of several species of plants, 

 remains of soft vegetable matter, insects of various kinds, among 

 which were the Notoneda, or boat-fly, and some of the minute 

 bivalve shells Pisidia. In one were four of the Limneus pereger, 

 full grown — shells and animals both being perfect ; — frequently 

 they contained seeds only. Those from Belfast Bay presented 

 minute mollusca, Rissoa ulvce, other Rissoce, together with Lit- 

 torincB, and small shells of Mytllus ediilis : all contained sand and 

 gravel, in addition to the food. 



The tufted duck is naturally subject to considerable changes of 

 plumage until it attains the adult state. A specimen, exhibiting 

 a singular departure from the ordinary appearance, killed on the 

 Dublin coast, on the 20th January, 1838, was kindly sent to 

 Belfast for my inspection, by Mr. H. H. Dombrain. The follow- 

 ing comparative description of it was made : — 



Mr. Dombrain's 

 bird, 

 in. lin. 





Adidt specimen of 

 Fuliffula cristata. 

 in. lin. 



Length (stufTed) total . 

 of wing . 



. 17 



. 8 





 3 



(stuffed also) 17 

 . 8 



6 

 3 



bill above, from central 









point, not reckoning curvature 

 Length of bill to rictus . 

 tarsus . 



1 

 1 

 1 



Hi 



4 







1 

 2 

 1 



7i 

 Oi 

 4 





2 



3 







2 



4i 





2 



.^i 







2 



^2 



4i 



■-^, 



] 



•^2 

 10 







1 



11 









8 











9 



Height of biU at base . 







H 











n 



Breadth of ujiper mandible at nostri] 



s 



H 











10 



Greatest breadth of upper niandib] 

 between nostrils and point 



^\o 



n 











lOi 



