PLATE CLXIII 



fpeclmen which is figured in the annexed plate : during the whole of, 

 that period we underftand that it has been only found occafionally 

 perhaps to the amount of three or four fpecimens at the utmoft, and 

 hence we may conclude, that it ranks among the rarer fpecies of the 

 Duck tribe found in this country. 



As is frequently the cafe with birds the two fexes of which differ 

 very materially in plumage, the male and female of this bird has, 

 been confidered as diftinft fpecies. The figure of the male which 

 is fhewn in our plate may fuperfede the neceflity of any particular 

 defcription of that fex, except with rerpe6l to fize, which corref- 

 ponds with that of the common wigeon, and is about feventeenv 

 inches in length. The female is lefs by three inches ; very 

 little exceeding in length thirteen inches: the general colour grey ; 

 forehead and between the eye white: lower part of the bread and 

 belly barred with pale rufous and white, and the lower part, together 

 with the thighs rufous and brown : quills, tail and legs dufky. 



The fpecies inhabits all the northern parts of Europe and America, 

 retiring a little to the fouthward as the winter become intenfeiy 

 fevere. Its chief food confifts of the vaft variety of teftaceous ani-- 

 mals, with which the waters of all the northern lakes and rivers 

 abound, and efpecially the innumerable hoft of gnats and othei' 

 aquatic infe6ls which are there produced in numbers beyond all con- 

 ception during the Ihort period of the polar fummer. 



FLAT E 



