RED-HEADED DUCK. 37 
convinced by their delicate flavour that they had lost little by 
their change of residence, but still maintained their superio- 
rity over all the waterfowl of that region. In the river St 
John, in Kast Florida, the editor also saw a few scattered in- 
dividuals of this species; but they were too shy to be ap- 
proached within gunshot. 
“The canvas-backs swim very low, especially when fat ; 
and when pursued by a boat, they stretch themselves out in 
lines, in the manner of the scaup ducks, so that some of the 
flock are always enabled to reconnoitre the paddler, and give 
information to the rest of his motions. When the look-out 
ducks apprehend danger, the stretching up of their necks is 
the signal, and immediately the whole squadron, facing to 
the wind, rise with a noise which may be heard at the dis- 
tance of half a mile.” 
RED-HEADED DUCK. (Anas ferina ?) 
— PLATE LXX.—Fice. 6. 
Peale’s Museum, No. 2710. 
FULIGULA FERIN A.—STEPHENS.* 
Steph. Cont. Sh. Zool. p. 193.—Fuligula ferina, Bonap. Synop. p. 392.—WNorth. 
Zool. ii. p. 451.—Nyroca ferina, Flem. Br. Anim. p. 108.—Le Canard Miloun, 
Temm. Man. ii. 868.—Pochard, or Red-headed Widgeon, Mont. Ornith. Dict. 
ii. and Supp.—Bew. Br. Birds, ii. p. 356.—Red-headed Widgeon, Selby’s Illust. 
Br. Ornith. pl. 63, fig. 1. 
THIs is a common associate of the canvas-back, frequenting 
the same places, and feeding on the stems of the same grass, 
the latter eating only the roots ; its flesh is very little inferior, 
and is often sold in our markets for the canvas-back to those 
unacquainted with the characteristic marks of each. Anxious 
as I am to determine precisely whether this species be the 
* A well-known duck common to both continents, keeping to the sea 
or large lakes, and only in very severe winters wandering to any extent 
inland. Sometimes seen in the decoys, but very seldom taken, from their 
expertness in diving under the tunnel.— Ep. 
