4^8 D U C K. 



wing coverts, afh-colour, clouded with a darker fhade: vent, and 

 upper and under tail coverts, white : the tail itfelf dufky black, 

 and a little rounded in fhape : legs reddifh black. 

 F«male. The female differs in having the plumage lefs bright; and in 



young birds the white on the fides of the neck is fmall, or 

 wholly deficient *. 

 Place and Thefe birds, like the Bernacles, frequent our coafts in winter ; 



and are particularly plenty, at times, on thofe of Holland and Ire- 

 land, where they are taken in nets placed acrofs the rivers f. In 

 fome feafons have reforted to the coafts of Picardy, in France y 

 in fuch prodigious flocks as to prove a peft to the inhabitants, 

 efpecially in the winter of the year 1740, when thefe birds de- 

 ftroyed all the corn near the Jea-coafts, by tearing it up by the 

 roots ; a general war was for this reafon declared againft them, 

 and. carried on in earneft, by knocking them on the head with 

 clubs-, but their numbers were fo prodigious, that this availed but 

 little : nor were the inhabitants relieved from this fcourge till 

 the north wind, which had brought them, ceafed to blow, when 

 they took leave %. 



They eafily become tame, and, being fatted, are thought to 

 be a delicate food. They breed pretty far north §, returning fouth- 

 ward in autumn. Fly in the fhape of a wedge, like the Wild 

 Geefe, with great clamour. Called in Schetland, Horra Geefe, from 

 being found in that Sound ||. Are common alfo in America : fre- 



* Such is the Rat or Road Goo/e of Wilhghby. See Orn. p. 361. pi. 76. — 

 Brif._ Orn. vi. p. 302. called La petite Bernacbe. 

 f Br. Zool. X Hift. des Oif. 



§ In Greenland, where they frequent the northern parts in fummer, migrating 

 in flocks to the fouthern in winter. — Faun> Groenl. 

 || Ar£l. Zool. 



3 quent 



