252 BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 



The third specimen was procured in Orkney, in 1841, by Mr. Mummery, of Margate, 

 and is now in the Margate Museum. 



-Their flesh is reported to be fishy, and of inferior quality. 



Their habits are a good deal like those of the Golden Eye. They are extraordinarily 

 quick in diving, hence their names of Spirit Duck and Conjurer, in America: they fly 

 with great rapidity. In America, they are found in small flocks towards the breeding 

 time, at the end of February, but previously to this they are only found in pairs. This 

 last fact, mentioned by Wilson, may be considered confirmatory of Mr. St. John's 

 opinion, founded partly on a similar habit exhibited by the Morillon in Sutherlandshire. 



Their note is a short 'quack.' 



Their food consists of shell-fish, shrimps, and the sea-weed called Ulva lactuca. 



They are said to breed in the northern parts of America, and to nest in the holes 

 of trees, as the Golden Eye does. 



Of their eggs we have no record. 



In the adult male, the bill is bluish lead-colour; irides, hazel. The head is very 

 large for the size of the bird, and has the plumage elongated and erectile; the colour 

 of the head and upper neck is a fine blackish green, reflecting purple; from the eye 

 a broad band of white passes backwards. Back, rump, and tertials, black; tail coverts 

 and tail, grayish ash; scapulars, wing coverts, and secondaries, white. Lower neck, 

 breast, and belly, white; vent, dusky white. Legs and feet, yellow. 



The female has the head, neck, and upper parts, dusky brown; the side of the head 

 has a small oblong spot of white; the secondaries, white; under parts, dull white; vent, 

 ash-colour. Legs and feet, livid blue. 



Young males resemble the females. 



The adult male measures fourteen inches in length. 



The female measures but thirteen inches. 



E. FA1YCETT, EXGRAYER AMD PKLSTER, DRIFFIELD. 



