235 



BED-CBESTED WHISTLING DUCK. 



RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 



Fuligula rufina, 

 Anas rufina, 

 Jlergoides rufina, 

 Canard Siffleur Suppe, 



Stephens. 

 Pallas. 

 Eytojj. 

 Teiiiecjck. 



Fuligula. Fuh'go — Soot; from the colour of some of the species. 



Rufina, from Rufus — Eed. 



This very handsome Duck is one of considerable rarity in Britain; though specimens 

 are occasionally met with during the winter months. It was first noticed by Mr. Yarrell, 

 in 1826; in the January of which year a male was shot near Boston, while feeding on 

 fresh water along with some Wigeon. Several others were obtained during the same 

 winter in the London market. It has since occurred at Yarmouth; Colchester; on the 

 Thames, at Erith, in Kent, one shot out of a flock of eighteen; one on Hornsea Mere, 

 in Norfolk, on January 12th., 1844, as recorded by J. H. Gurney, Esq., in the 

 "Zoologist," where he gives the following particulars: — "Mr. Rising, in whose possession 

 the bird now is, informs me that it was killed rather early in the morning, and that it 

 was quite alone and extremely tame. This specimen was a male bird, in the fullest adult 

 plumage, and when newly killed was as beautiful a bird as I have ever seen. The 

 beak was of a most splendid vermillion red colour, the nail of the beak being also red, 

 but paler than the rest. The colouring of the beak began to fade soon after the bird 

 was mounted, as also did another beauty which was apparent when the bird was first 

 killed, and which consisted of a wonderfully elegant tinge of rose-colour, which pervaded 

 the whole of the white parts of the plumage, especially the two large patches on the 

 back above the shoulders." Another specimen was shot at Swanpool, near Falmouth, 

 February, 1845, and sold in the market for sixpence, as recorded by "W. P. Cocks, Esq., 

 in "The Naturalist" for 1851. 



On the continent it has occurred, but apparently rarely, in most of the middle and 

 southern countries. It is said to be resident in Sicily, and to breed there. It has also 

 been met with in Northern Africa; around the Caspian Sea, in the Himalaya, at 

 Calcutta, Nepaul, and in the Duckun. 



