BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 569 
of the United States, in every quarter of the country, during autumn 
and winter. About the middle of April, or early in May, they retire 
to the north to breed. They are dexterous divers, and fly with extra- 
ordinary-velocity. So early as the latter part of February, the males 
are observed to have violent disputes for the females. At this time 
they are more commonly seen in flocks, but, during the preceding 
part of winter, they usually fly in pairs. Their note is a short quak. 
They feed much on shell fish, shrimps, &c. They are sometimes 
exceedingly fat, though their flesh is inferior to many others for the 
table. The male exceeds the female in size, and greatly in beauty of 
plumage. 
The Buffel-headed Duck, or rather, as it has originally been, the 
Buffalo-headed Duck, from the disproportionate size of its head, is 
fourteen inches long, and twenty-three inches in extent; the bill is 
short, and of a light blue, or leaden color; the plumage of the head 
and half of the neck is thick, long, and velvety, projecting greatly over 
the lower part of the neck; this plumage on the forehead and nape is 
rich glossy green, changing into a shining purple on the crown and 
sides of the neck; from the eyes backward passes a broad band of 
pure white ; iris of the eye, dark; back, wings, and part of the scapu- 
lars, black; rest of the scapulars, lateral band along the wing, and 
whole breast, snowy white ;" belly, vent, and tail-coverts, dusky white ; 
tail, pointed, and of a hoary color. 
The female is considerably less than the male, and entirely desti- 
tute of the tumid plumage of the head; the head, neck, and upper 
parts of the body, and wings, are sooty black, darkest on the crown; 
side of the head, marked with a small, oblong spot of white ;, bill, 
dusky; lower part of the neck, ash, tipped with white; belly, dull 
white; vent, cinereous; outer edges of six of the secondaries ,and 
their incumbent coverts, white, except the tips of the latter, which are 
black; legs and feet, a livid blue; tail, hoary brown; length of the 
intestines, three feet six inches; stomach, filled with small shell fish. 
This is the Spirit Duck of Pennant, so called from its dexterity in div- 
ing, (Arctic Zoology, No. 487;) likewise the Little Brown Duck of 
Catesby, (Natural History of Carolina, pl. 98.) 
This species is said to come into Hudson’s Bay, about Severn Riv- 
er, in June, and make their nests.in trees in the woods near ponds.* 
The young males, during the first year, are almost exactly like the fe- 
tales in color. 
* LarHam. 
48* 
