tail short, coniposed of fourteen feathers ; legs and feet 
dusky. 
The female has no crest, but agrees in its luarkinojs with 
the male ; but where tSie male is black, the female is browrn, 
and it has not the violet reflection so conspicuous in the 
other sex. The joung Of both sexes resemble the female, 
and the males do not acquire their full plumage for several 
years. They vary considerably in size and weight. 
The Tufted Duck is extremely shy, and is with dif- 
ficultv approached ; it frequents inland lakes anti is some- 
times taken with Teal and others of the Duck tribe in our 
decoys, but from its continually diving is rarely taken 
in numbers. Some we received alive from a decoy near 
Maldon, Essex, were exceedingly wild, and sur\iv d but a 
few days : during their confinemer.t, on the approach of any 
one, they 5»ttered a hissing,- noise like the Comm n Goose, 
and were continually snapping their bills : the\ have many 
of the actions of the Teal, but are a far less elegant species. 
The flesh is excellent, though it appears from Latham 
that it is permitt d to be eaten in Catholic countries^ on inai- 
gre da)s, erhnps 3n>m an erroneous idea that from its diving, 
and being often met with in salt water, its flesh resembles 
that of the Scoter* 
