DIVING DUCKS. 221 



about the ears ; upper parts black, including two central 

 tail-feathers extending 6 inches be;^ond the remaining 

 tail-feathers, which are white ; a white band of long, 

 drooping feathers at each side of the back ; wings, fore- 

 neck, chest, and breast black ; remaining under parts 

 white, shaded light gray ; bill blackish-gray, pink in 

 the middle ; feet dark gray. Female : brown ; crown 

 and chin dark ; sides of head whitish ; dull white 

 stripe over the eye ; under parts white ; tail not 

 elongated. Winter migrant. 



Distribution. — England, chiefly east coast ; Scotland, 

 east and west sides, common in the' Hebrides ; Ireland, 

 rare and irregular. 



The Long-Tailed Duck is a winter visitor from 

 the far north, and whilst with us is of exclusively 

 marine habit. It occurs chiefly on the west coast of 

 Scotland, and occasionally on the north coast of 

 Ireland. It is a notable diver, and since its food 

 consists principally of small life captured in the sea, 

 the bird is not restricted to shallow waters, as is the 

 case with those divers into whose diet vegetable fare 

 largely enters. The long tail, and the long drooping 

 white plumes at the sides of the back, suffice to 

 identify the Long-Tailed Duck, even if its simple, 

 strongly contrasted scheme of coloration and pink- 

 centred bill be not satisfactorily observed. 



PINTAIL DUCK— 26 inches. Resembles the Long-Tailed 

 only in the length of the central tail-feathers ; but, be- 

 sides being a much larger bird, it has brown head and 

 face, with long white stripe down the sides of the neolc ; 

 back and sides of body gray ; wing with green speculum. 

 It occurs principally on the south and east coasts of 

 the British Islands, where the Long-Tailed Duck is little 

 known. 



