137 



VELVET DUCK. 

 AJVAS FUSCA. 

 [Plate LXXII.— Fig. 3.] 



Le pHinde Macreuse, Briss. VI, p. 423, 29.— Buff. IX, p. 242.— PL EnJ. 956.—ArcL Zool. JV^o. 482. 

 — Bewick, 11, p. 286. — ^Lath. Syn. Ill, p. 482. — ^Peaie's Musmmy JS'o. 2658, Female. 



THIS and the preceding are frequently confounded together 

 as one and the same species by our gunners on the sea coast. The 

 former, however, differs in being of greater size ; in having a broad 

 band of white across the wing ; a spot of the same under the eye, 

 and in the structure of its bill. The habits of both are very much 

 alike ; they visit us only during the winter ; feed entirely on shell 

 fish, which they procure by diving ; and return to the northern 

 regions early in spring to breed. They often associate with the 

 Scoters, and are taken frequently in the same nets with them. 

 Owing to the rank fishy flavor of its flesh, it is seldom sought after 

 by our sportsmen or gunners, and is very little esteemed. 



The Velvet Duck measures twenty three inches in length, 

 and two feet nine inches in extent, and weighs about three pounds ; 

 the bill is broad, a little elevated at the base, where it is black, 

 the rest red, except the lower mandible, which is of a pale yellow- 

 ish white ; both are edged with black, and deeply toothed ; irides 

 pale cream; under the eye is a small spot of white; general color 

 of the plumage brownish black, the secondaries excepted, which 

 are white, forming a broad band across the wing; there are a few 

 reflections of purple on the upper plumage ; the legs are reel on 

 the outside, and deep yellow sprinkled with blackish on the inner 

 sides ; tail short and pointed. 



VOL. VIII. M m 



