144 
ANATIM. 
its not having the slightest appearance of any previous wounds, 
suggested that it might possibly have remained there for the 
purpose of breeding. I could not learn whether or not a second 
bird had been seen. 
On looking to the food contained in thirteen of these ducks, 
killed from November to March in different years, I found those 
from fresh-water to exhibit the seeds of several species of plants, 
remains of soft vegetable matter, insects of various kinds, among 
which were the Notonecta, or boat-fly, and some of the minute 
bivalve shells Pisidia. In one were four of the limneus pereger, 
full grown — shells and animals both being perfect ; — frequently 
they contained seeds only. Those from Belfast Bay presented 
minute mollusca, Rissoa ulv<% , other Rissoce, together with Lit- 
torina , and small shells of Mytilus edulis : all contained sand and 
gravel, in addition to the food. 
The tufted duck is naturally subject to considerable changes of 
plumage until it attains the adult state. A specimen, exhibiting 
a singular departure from the ordinary appearance, killed on the 
Dublin coast, on the 20th January, 1838, was kindly sent to 
Belfast for my inspection, by Mr. H. H. Dombrain. The follow- 
ing comparative description of it was made : — 
Mr. Dombrain’s Adult specimen of 
bird. Fuligula cristata. 
in. 
lin. 
in. 
lin. 
Length (stuffed) total . 
17 
0 
(stuffed also) 17 
6 
of wing .... 
8 
8 
. 8 
3 
bill above, from central 
point, not reckoning curvature . 
1 
n 
. 1 
7i 
Length of bill to rictus . 
1 
Hi 
. 2 
0i 
— tarsus .... 
1 
4 
. 1 
4 
— middle toe and nail 
2 
3 
. 2 
4i 
2 
H 
. 2 
— — inner toe and nail 
]. 
10 
. 1 
11 
hind toe and nail . 
0 
8 
. 0 
9 
Height of bill at base . 
0 
9i 
. 0 
9i 
Breadth of upper mandible at nostrils 
0 
H 
. 0 
10 
Greatest breadth of upper mandible 
}° 
9i 
. 0 
10i 
between nostrils and point 
2 
