BufFel-headed Duck 
a dozen individuals. Both by their small size and the conspicuous plumage of the males 
they are easy to identify, and cannot be mistaken for the Golden- Eye even at a considerable 
distance. They dive with surprising rapidity, and, if alarmed, differ from all the other 
diving ducks in the light way in which they rise to wing. When leaving the water they 
" spring" very nearly as lightly as a Teal, and fly, always over the water, with rapidity 
although at no great height. Both for their quickness in diving and taking to flight the 
Indians call them the Spirit " duck, for in olden days it was next to impossible to kill 
them with the flint-gun and the arrow ; but with modern weapons the case is different, and 
I found them amongst the easiest diving ducks to kill I have encountered. Both in Central 
Canada and in British Columbia they are very fond of frequenting slow-moving rivers 
connecting large lakes, and along these narrow waters they would always fly at about fifteen 
yards above the water, if moved from above or below by one of my Indians. By this 
method I shot all the adult and immature specimens I required in two days, and was after- 
wards content to stalk them and watch their habits when undisturbed. All along the east 
side of the Island of Vancouver, which is a perfect paradise for sea ducks from October 
until the spring, Buflel-headed Ducks were very abundant, but here, as on the east coast of 
America, they are much shyer and not so easily cornered. In the Bay of Fundy, New 
Brunswick, Mr. Dresser says (Birds of Europe, p. 591) he found no difficulty in shooting 
them, and that they were common there throughout the winter, whilst most American wild- 
fowlers consider them numerous along the east American coasts, especially so along the 
New England shores, and easy to kill. 
At all seasons Buffel-headed Ducks keep by themselves. In winter they frequent 
shallow sandy bays, and are fond of the same sort of ground to feed in as the Golden-Eye, 
namely, estuaries and edges of tide-rips. They are also restless, constantly flying from one 
feeding ground to another, and in so doing generally pass sandy bars at the same spot 
day after day, where gunners who know their habits often kill large numbers. 
The Buffel-head floats lightly on the water. When undisturbed the head is well sunk 
to the mantle, and the feathers of the cheeks much puffed out. The crest, too, is frequently 
frilled out so that it has a fluffy appearance. American authors say that some sentinels are 
always left on the surface of the water when a flock are feeding, so as to give alarm in case 
of danger, but I have not noticed this amongst the small flocks. I have observed in autumn 
and early winter they all, on the contrary, dived together with great rapidity, and on coming 
to the surface again, seemed to detect danger quite as quickly, if not quicker than Golden- 
Eyes. In the case of danger being close at hand they took to wing at once, flying immedi- 
ately their heads appeared above the surface, but at a distance they would dive again at once, 
and only fly when they thought they were well out of range. The flesh of those killed in 
autumn, especially young birds, was eatable, though inferior, but after they go to the sea 
they are as unpalatable as other true sea ducks. I have heard the female give a low grating 
note, very similar to that of the Golden-Eye, but not so loud, and it is most probable that 
the male has a distinct call as well as a whistle during courtship. From what I could 
gather from naturalists in British Columbia the courtship is very like, if not exactly similar 
to, that of the Golden-Eye, but no one seems to have observed it at close range. 
Buffel-headed Ducks leave the east and western coasts of America in March, and move 
to their breeding grounds in the interior and the North-West. The nest is usually placed in 
