236 
NATURAL HISTORY 
young one from every egg committed to her charge; she 
does not lead them to the water indeed, but she carefully 
guards them when there, by standing at the brink. — 
Should the rat or the weazel attempt to seize them, the 
hen instantly gives them protection; she leads them to 
the house when tired with paddling, and rears up the 
suppositious brood without ever suspecting that they be- 
long to another. 
Crested Diver. (PI. 39.) The crested diver is about 
the size of a duck; the bill, that part especially towards 
the head is of a reddish colour, and in length is some- 
what more than two inches; on the top of the head and 
neck, is a beautiful crest of feathers, those on the neck 
appearing like a collar or ruff, and seem a good deal big- 
ger than they really are; those on the top of the head are 
black, those on the sides of the neck, are of a reddish or 
cinereous colour; the back and wings are of a darkish 
brown, pretty much inclining to black, except some of 
the exterior edges of the wing feathers, which are white. 
The breast and belly are of a light ash-colour; it has 
no tail; the legs and toes broad and flat, much like those 
before described. It has an unpleasant cry; and will 
occasionally, when angered or pleased, raise or fall the 
feathers of its crest. 
Widgeon. (PI. 40.) This bird weighs near a pound 
and a half; it has a black nail at the end of the upper 
mandible of the bill, the other part of which is of a lead 
colour; the structure of the head and mouth very much 
resembles the common wild duck, only the head does not 
seem to be quite so large, in proportion to the body, 
which also appears of a finer shape, and the wings 
longer. The crown of the head towards the base of the 
bill, is of a pale pink colour, inclining to a reddish white; 
the other parts of the head and neck are red; the sides 
of the body and the upper part of the breast, are tinc- 
tured with a very fair, glossy, and beautiful claret colour, 
with a few small transverse lines of black. The feathers 
on the back are brown, the edges more pale or ash co- 
loured; the scapular feathers, and those under the fore 
part of the wings, are finely variegated with small trans« 
