118 
BIMACULATED DUCK. 
in his British Zoology, describes this bird, and adds 
in conclusion, “ Taken in a decoy in 1771, and 
communicated to me by Eward Poore, Esq.” Two 
other specimens were killed near Malden, in Essex, 
in the winter of 1812-13; and Mr. Yarrell informs 
us, that a specimen has been obtained during the 
last winter (1842-3) in the London market. These 
are the authorities for the introduction of tire bird to 
the British list, while out of it we have even still less 
evidence of its occasional occurrence, and nothing 
whatever on what we might build a conjecture of 
its habits. “ Mr Procter sent me word that he 
saw this species in Iceland, but could not obtain 
it,” is observed by Mr. Yarrell, but we have no in- 
formation of the locality or circumstances under 
which it was seen. It is a beautiful species, and 
approaches to the pintails in the lengthened neck 
and its colours, and in the form of the tail more 
elongated than those we have left, and whethei 
united or separated, it will stand on the confines 
of eithor sub-genus. Mr. Selby's description of the 
original specimen is as follows : — “ Bill blackish 
grey, passing towards the base and edges into orange 
yellow ; front, crown, and occiput very deep red- 
dish brown, glossed with purplish black, and pass- 
ing on the hind part of the neck into deep violet 
purple. Between the bill and the eyes, and beliind 
the ear-coverts are two large or regular patches of 
chestnut brown, margined and varied with white ; 
sides of the neck and cheeks glossy duck-green, the 
rest of the upper part of the neck and throat being 
