THE BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 

 Clangula albeola (Linnseus). 

 Plate 49. 



I can find only two reliable records of this small American duck in Great 

 Britain, the first shot near Yarmouth about 1830, and at present in the Norwich 

 Museum, and another, now in the possession of Mr. J. Whitaker, of Rainworth 

 Lodge, Notts, killed at Bridlington, Yorkshire, in the winter of 1864-65. 



Some other specimens recorded are said not to be authentic. The Buffel- 

 headed Duck breeds in the northern parts of the United States of America and in 

 the Dominion of Canada, migrating in winter to the more southern parts of that 

 Continent as far as California, Mexico, and Florida, as well as to the West Indies 

 and the Bermudas. 



Like the Golden-Eye, this species nests in holes in trees, often at some height 

 from the ground, and lays from eight to ten eggs, which are buffish-white in colour. 



In summer it lives on plants, worms, snails, &c., and when on salt water in 

 winter, it eats shell-fish and other marine creatures. 



It is usually a silent bird, merely uttering a low croak, and is known in America 

 under the names of "Butter-ball," "Spirit Duck," and "Conjuror," the two last 

 having been applied to this duck owing to the rapidity with which it disappears 

 when diving. 



47 



