THE TUETED DUCK. 
143 
about, who would swim for and bring the ducks to land. One 
fine manly little fellow at once engaged to do so, and swam out 
boldly — perhaps more so than his strength warranted — until 
near the middle of the river ; when, being almost within reach of 
the bird, he became faint, either from the cold of the water or over- 
exertion, and for some time I greatly feared for his safety. But his 
spirit was not to be beaten ; he rallied, — at a few more bold strokes 
laid hold of both ducks, and returned safely with them to the shore. 
In my young days, a duck, most probably of this species, came, 
in the month of October, to a pond at Wolf-hill, covering, per- 
haps, an English acre — I have obtained tufted ducks killed on 
still smaller ponds — and remained about a week. Such an occur- 
rence being quite a novelty, the members of the family were so 
pleased watching the bird, that care was taken it should not be 
disturbed. The visitor then departed, and, as was feared, alto- 
gether ; but not so, for it soon returned with two or three com- 
panions. After remaining for a short time, they all went off and 
reappeared in a day or two, when the number was increased to 
seven or eight, which continued there for two or three weeks. So 
persecuted are these poor birds almost everywhere they appear, 
that it is interesting thus to see how they avail themselves of a 
locality in which they are unmolested. A female bird of this 
species, kept in the pond at the Falls, with a number of other 
wild-fowl, was of a gentle, quiet disposition. 
I am informed by Mr. B. Ball, that “ three pinioned tufted ducks 
have been for some years on the pond at the Boyal Zoological 
Society's Gardens, Dublin. They keep out as far from the sides 
of the pond as possible, and in winter are joined by a flock of 
from five to ten wild males and several females. Thirteen males 
have occasionally been counted ; the females, being mixed with 
the various species on the pond, were not so easily reckoned, but 
appeared not to be so numerous. The wild birds stay four or 
five months. Last week (the communication is dated November 
13, 1848) five arrived. They seem generally to be in pairs." 
On the 17th June, 1834, a fresh specimen of a fine old male, 
killed near Lough Neagh, came under my inspection, and, from 
