SUMMER DUCK OF CAROLINA. 
The bill of this bird, described by Ed- 
jwards, is red in the middle, and there is a black 
spot at the extremity. The irides are yellow, 
"\^ith a purple circle ; and, on each side of the 
head, there are two long feathers, apparently 
divided into hairs of a blueish green colour, 
with a purplishjcast, and a narrow white bor- 
der. The feathers on the head are of a violet 
hue; from each side of the throat, which is 
white, run several bow-like streaks; and the 
breast is red spotted with white. Near the 
small coverts of the wings, there are broad 
black streaks, w^hich run across the back ; but 
the upper parts of the wings display a diver- 
sity of colours. The tail is blue and purple ; 
and the feet, which are brown,. have a reddish 
cast on their fore-parts. 
BufFon gives the following ; but neither 
words, nor even the pencil, can describe such 
variegated plumage with absolute precision. 
A piece of beautiful rufous, says Buffon, 
specked with little white dashes, covers the 
breast, as well as the back of the neck, and i& 
neatlv intersedlcd on the shoulders by a streak 
of 
