DUCK. 541 



markets in that feafon, and is much efteemed *. It is common 

 alfo throughout the Ruffian empire, going northward to breed. 

 Is frequent in Kamtfcbatka f . 



Anas nyroca, N. C. Petr. xiv, p. 403. (Gueldenftaedt.) 79. 



Var. A. 

 T ENGTH fixteen inches and eight lines. Bill two inches, Description. 



black j toothed on the fides: irides whitifh : head com- 

 prefied on the fides, and of a deep gloffy chefnut : neck, breaflr, 

 and fides, the fame : lower part of the neck behind, back, and 

 rump, olive black : belly and vent white ; fides of the laft brown : 

 wings fhorter than the tail; fome of the quills edged, and others 

 tipped with olive black ; from the feventh to the twentieth 

 white, except at the ends, which are black, forming, when clofed, 

 a large patch or fpeculum : tail pointed, of a black brown : legs 

 deep lead-colour : claws black. 



The female is fmaller; of a dirty ruft-colour where the male is Female- 



chefnut : belly whitifh, clouded : region of the vent paler 

 brown ; and the back inclined to rufous : the reft as in the male. 



This inhabits Ruff a; and is frequent about the river Don. Place and, 

 The male and female always found together. Lays from fix to SERS °' 



eight whitifh eggs, in fome hollow on a rifing ground, in the 

 month of May. The female, while fitting, drives off the male, 

 left he fhould break the eggs, as he is known to do. This fpe- 

 cies lives chiefly on vegetables and feeds, rarely on fifh. The flefh 

 is well-tafted, and tender. 



* The French allow this to be eaten on Malgre Dayt, and in Lent ; as they 

 alfo do the Scoter: but though the flefh of this laft is now and then tolerable, that 

 of the tufted Duck is feldom otherwife than excellent. 



\ ArB. Z00U 



10 M, Gueldenftaedt* 



