232 THE BIKDS OF DETOX. 



his handbook, Mr. Harting describes tivo Pembrokeshire examples, but vre 

 have reason to regard both his entries as referring to the same bird. 



The Brauuton example recorded above -was seen by Mr. J. Gatcombe, 

 who informed Mr. Dresser that the white portions of its plumage were 

 tinged with a beautiful bluish colour. The Eed-crested Pochard belongs 

 to the freshwater Ducks, frequenting, and nesting on the edges of, inland 

 lakes and ponds. 



Tufted Duck. FuUfjuIa aistata (Leach). 



[Black Wigeon, Pied Wigeon : Dev.] 



A winter visitor, arriving in October, and not uncommon in some 

 seasons on our larger rivers, and especially numerous at .Slapton and 

 Torcross Leys. Mr. J. H. Gurney saw a Tufted Du<;k off Torcross on 

 April 11th, l.'^Oo, and his late father saw another in the same place ou 

 ilay 2'2n(l, 1871. This Duck, therefore, possibly breeds occasionally in 

 the reed-beds of Slapton and other Leys on the .S.W. coast, and it is also 

 believed to liave bred near Barnstaple. 



At Plyiiioiitli, specimens were obtained in 1853-.54-.55, 1864, and 1870 (B., MS. 

 Jsiitps). Some occurred there on October 21st, l.ST'J. December 1878, and November 

 1879 (J. G.. Zool. 187^, p. 3787 ; 1879, p. 11.") ; 188il, p. 48). 



Montagu says "' it is frequently sbot ou 81 ipton Ley, in South Devon, a large piece 

 of water close to the sea, and is by tlie natives called ' Elack Wigeon ' " (Orn. Diet. 

 Suppl.). We saw some there in January 1856. An adult male occurred on Torcross 

 Ley, February fith, 1888, and some splendid full-plumaged males have been obtained 

 bv Mr. W. Toll and Mr. A. F. Iloldsworth. Many were shot in January 18'Jl 

 (k A. S. E.). 



Some occurred on the Dart, December 11th, and on the Teign, December 29th, 

 1870 (J. H. Ct., Zool. 1^71. p. 2(iol). Two were seen at Dartmouth, November 9th, 

 1874 (G. F. M., Zool. 187.3, p. 4.320). 



On the Exe, examples occurred in 1839. and on December fith, 1844 (F. W. L. R., 

 M.S. Journ. ii. pp. 49, 150). Also in February 1855, Jsovember 1808, and October 

 1880. 



The Tufted Duck has often occurred to ourselves on the Barnstaple river, where it 

 is not rare, and a brood of very young birds made their appearance just below Barn- 

 staple at the end of July 18."9, which we considered might have been reared some- 

 where close at hand (M. A. M., Zool. 1859, p. 0761). 



On February 18th, 1855, we had the pleasure of watching a fine male 

 Tufted Duck swimmiug in an open space amongst the ice that at the 

 time covered tlie Exe, about a mile above Topsham. We were concealed 

 behind a wall not far off, and through a telescope were able to observe all 

 the Duck's actions at leisure. It dived occasional!}', remaining under 

 water about one minute at a time by our watch. AVe saw it come up 

 from a dive with a lively eel in its bill, and pass it through its mandibles 

 from side to side for some time, probably to crush the bones, and beat it 

 about in the water a great deal. At last it swallowed its captive, but the 

 eel had not been long down the bird's throat before it wriggled up again, 

 when the process of crushing and beating it was repeated, and it was then 

 finally slowed away safely. Whilst watching this Duck, a female Bed- 



