DUCKS. 65 



(704)j belonging to the same genus, has now been conclusively proved to 

 hreed occasionally in the north of Scotland. Tlie drakes of both the 

 Golden-eye (706) and BufFel-headed (707) Ducks [Clangula] are very 

 handsome black-and-white forms and included in the list of British 

 Birds, the former being a regular winter visitor, but the latter only a 

 rare North American straggler. Another common winter visitor to our 

 coasts, the Long-tailed Duck {Hareldd) (708), is said to breed occa- 

 sionally in the Shetlands, but the remarkably handsome Harlequin 

 (709), which is placed next to it, is only an accidental straggler from 

 the north. 



The Scoters ((Eafemia), of which three species are exhibited, are all [Case 38. j 

 British Sea-ducks. The males are easily recognised by their black 

 plumage, the common species (0. nigra) (710) being a numerous bird 

 on our coasts, especially in winter. Lastly we come to the large 

 Steamer or Logger-head Duck [Tachyeres) (713), from the coasts of 

 Chile and the Falkland Islands ; only the young birds are able to 

 fly, the adults losing the power of flight. 



Passing by the curiously marked Freckled T>\xc\'^ {Stictonetta) (715) [(Jas^ 39.] 

 of South Australia at the foot of the Case, we come to the various 

 species of Teal, a large group of smaller species referred to several 

 genera. Among the most striking we may mention the very hand- 

 some Cinnamon-Teal {Querquedula cyanoptera) (717). The Gar- 

 ganey (Q. circia) (719), the Blue-winged (Q. discors) (718), and the 

 American Teal [Nettion carolinense) (724) are all on the British 

 List, but the two latter only appear as accidental visitors. Closely 

 resembling the latter we have the Common Teal [N. crecca) (725), and 

 may draw attention in passing to the drake exhibited in complete eclipse 

 plumage like that of the female. The most beautiful member of the 

 genus is, however, undoubtedly the Baikal Teal (A'^. formosum) (728), 

 and another very flne bird is the Falcated Teal {Eunetta falcatd) (729) 

 with its green occipital crest. 



Of the genus Anas which follows several species will be found. [Case 89.] 

 The Spotted-billed Duck {A. pcecilorhyncha) (732) is a familiar Indian 

 species, and one of the most striking is the Crested Duck {A. cristata) 



(734) from South America. The Wild Duck or Mallard {A. boscas) 



(735) is shown in various stages of plumage, the drake of the middle pair 

 being in '' eclipse plumage." 



At the foot of this Case we find some Ducks with remarkably [Case 40.] 

 formed bills specially adapted for retaining small shells, insects, and 

 vegetable matter. The Shovelers {Spatula) {131 & 738) include 

 four species, two of which are exhibited, and the so-called Pink-eyed 

 Duck {Malacorkynchus membranaceus) (739), which has a patch of pink 

 feathers behind the eye. The Common Shoveler {S. clypeata) (738) 



r 



