244 TUFTED DUCK. 



days, a Duck, most probably of this species, came in the month of October, to a pond 

 at Wolf-hill, covering, perhaps, an English acre — I have obtained Tufted Ducks killed 

 on still smaller ponds — and remained & week. Such an occurrence being quite a novelty, 

 the members of the family were so pleased watching the bird, that care was taken it 

 should not be disturbed. The visitor then departed, and, as we feared, altogether; but 

 not so, for it soon returned with two or three companions. After remaining a short 

 time, they all went off and re-appeared in a day or two, when the number was increased 

 to seven or eight, which continued there for two or three weeks. So persecuted are 

 these poor birds almost everywhere they appear, that it is interesting thus to see how 

 they avail themselves of a locality in Avhich they are unmolested. A female bird of 

 this species, kept in the pond at the Falls, with a number of other wildfowl, was of a 

 gentle quiet disposition." 



The food consists of small shell-fish, seeds of different kinds, various vegetable matters, 

 and insects. Seeds and grain will be preferred when attainable. 



The nest is placed among reeds or rushes, at the edge of inland lakes and meres. 



The eggs, eight or ten in number, are of a pale greenish buff colour, and measure 

 two inches and one-eighth in length, by one inch and three-eighths in breadth. 



In the adult male, the bill is bluish gray; the nail, black. Iricles, bright gamboge 

 yellow; head, rich black, reflecting green and purple; nuchal feathers, elongated into a 

 handsome crest; neck, upper breast, and upper back, black; back, scapulars, and tertials, 

 also black, but minutely speckled with yellowish dots; rump and tail, black. Wings, 

 dusky black, with a white speculum. Lower breast, black, each feather tipped with white; 

 belly and flanks, white. Vent, mottled black and white; under tail coverts, dusky black. 

 Legs and toes, blackish blue; membranes, black. 



The female has the parts which are black in the male, of a dark umber brown; the 

 under parts of a greyish white. 



The length of the adult male is about seventeen inches. 



