214 
anas fusca. 
The velvet duck measures twenty-three inches 
length, and two feet nine inches in extent, and wci?®| 
ahoxit three pounds ; the hill is broad, a little elevate" 
at the base, where it is black, the rest red, except 
lower mandible, n hich is of a pale yellowish 
both are edged with black, and deeply toothed ; irid'’-*; 
pale cream; under the eye is a small spot of u-hik' 
general colour of the plumage hroxvnish black, 
secondaries excepted, which are white, formin«r a bro>? 
baud across the xving ; there are a few reflections 
purjile on the upper plumage ; the legs are red on t*"' 
outside, and deep yellow, sprinkled n ith blackish, 
the inner sides ; tail, short and pointed. 
female is very little less than the male; •<“' 
dilicrs considerably in its markings. The bill is diisl-'.''; 
forehead and cheeks, u hite ; under the eye, dull broxviiis^’ 
behind that a large oval spot of w hite ; w hole up]'*’' 
parts and neck, dark brownish drab ; tips of the ill iiniafT*'; 
Jigliter; secondaries, white; wing-(|nills, deep bro"'"' 
belly brownish white; tail, hoary brown ; the tbrC*' 
IS white, marked with dusky specks ; legs and fe«'’ 
yellow. ® 
Latham informs us, that this species is sometimes 
on the coast of England, but is not common there; tl'**, 
it inhabits Denmark and Eiissia, and, in some parts 
biberia, IS very common. It is also found at Kamtschatk*' 
ivhere it is said to breed, going far inland to lay; 
eggs are eight or ten, and white; the males depart, a"*' 
leave the females to remain with the youiie- until tb*’^ 
are able to fly. In the river Ochotska they are 
numerous that a party of natives, consisting of lift.'' 
more, go off in boats, and drive these ducks up the riv*'j 
before them, and, when the tide ebbs, fall on them * 
once, and knock them on the head with clubs, kill'"^ 
such numbers that each man has twenty or thirty 
ins share.* •' 
History of Kamtschatha, p. 160 . 
