578 



6 



the 20th May, and he saw it as late as the 11th September; Dr. Eadde saw the first on the 

 Tarei-nor on the 16th (28th) April, and in the Bureja Mountains on the 4th (16th) April, and 

 as late as the 21st September (3rd October) on the Central Onon. According to Dr. Dybowski 

 (J. f. O. 1873, p. 110) it is common in Dauria on passage, and remains to breed, arriving about 

 the middle of May and leaving about the 20th October ; and in China and Japan it is abundant, 

 and generally distributed, from November to March. 



In general habits the Tufted Duck differs but little from its allies, assimilating perhaps 

 most closely to the Scaup, which species it much resembles when on the wing. It frequents 

 fresh water during the breeding-season ; but on passage and in the winter it is most generally to 

 be met with on the sea-coast, and scarcely ever in reedy and marshy localities, such as it inhabits 

 in the summer. It is gregarious, usually collecting in larger or smaller flocks during the winter ; 

 and, as a rule, it is rather a shy and cautious bird. 



It dives extremely well, remaining long under the surface, and often coming up only for a 

 second to get breath, diving again instantly. It is but a poor walker, and does not frequent 

 dry ground for long, seldom straying far away from the water, and when disturbed usually 

 waddles down and paddles off before taking wing. 



It feeds chiefly on aquatic animals of various kinds, small shells, insects, fish, frogs, and 

 tadpoles, usually obtaining its food by diving ; but it also feeds, when frequenting fresh water, on 

 vegetable matter, such as roots, seeds, and buds of aquatic plants. 



As above stated, the Tufted Duck breeds in the northern portions of Europe, the eggs being 

 deposited early in June. The nest is placed on the ground, not far from or even close to the 

 water. A nest sent to me by Mr. Meves, taken at Muoniovaara, in Lapland, on the 20th June, 

 consists of grass bents and a few leaves felted together with a mass of sooty brownish-black down 

 having dull greyish-white centres ; and the eggs, eight in number, are uniform pale olive-green 

 or greenish buff' in colour, smooth and polished in texture of shell, and in size average about 

 2H by Iff inch. 



In regard to the synonymy of this species, it may be as well to make the following 

 remarks: — Anas scancliaca, Gmel. (Syst. Nat. i. p. 520, 1788), and Anas colymbis, Pall. (Zoogr. 

 Eosso-As. ii. p. 266, 1811), have both been included by Mr. G. E. Gray amongst the synonyms 

 of this Duck, but, as it appears to me, incorrectly. Neither the diagnosis nor description of 

 Anas scancliaca fit the Tufted Duck, but appear possibly to refer to the Shoveller ; and Pallas's 

 Anas colymbis may be a young male or a female of the present species ; it is, however, very possible, 

 as suggested by him, that it is nothing but a hybrid. He correctly describes the Tufted Duck 

 under the name of Anas fuligula ; and as his Anas colymbis is intended to refer to something 

 different, though what, it is impossible to decide, this name must be altogether disregarded. 



The specimens figured are the adult male and female above described, both of which are in 

 my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens: — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, d,b,2. Archangel, May 15th (Piottuch). c, d. Mouth of the Thames, March 25th, 1871 (H. E. D.). 

 d, e,f, <$ . Leadenhall Market, winter (H. E. D.). g,pull. South-eastern Ural, July 29th, 1872 [Meves). 



