226 
ANAS FERINA. 
of the same jfrass, the latter eatinw only the roots ; 
flesh is very little inferior, and it is often sold in ouj 
markets for the canvass-back to those unacquainted 
with the characteristic marks of each. An.vious as ‘ 
am to determine precisely whether this species be tb® 
red-headed wigeon, pochard, or dun bird* of EuglanO' 
I have not been able to ascertain the point to my o"® 
satisfaction, though I think it very probably the san'^i 
the size, extent, and general description of the pochard 
agreeing pretty nearly with this. 
The red-head is twenty inches in length, and 
feet six inches in extent; bill, dark slate, sometini^ 
black, two inches long, and seven eighths of an in^a 
thick at the base, furnished with a large broad nail ^ 
the extremity ; irides, flame coloured ; plumage of 
head long, velvety, and inflated, running high above tb^ 
base of the bill ; head, and about two inches of the neeK’ 
deep glossy reddish chestnut ; rest of the neck aa® 
upper part of the breast, black, spreading round to tl'^ 
back ; belly, white, becoming dnskv towards the ve® 
by closely marked undulating lines of black; back ai’'* 
scapulars, bluish white, rendered gray by numero'’" 
transverse waving linos of black; lesser wiug-coverl* 
brownish ash; wing-quills, very pale slate, dusky at tb 
tips ; lower part of the back and sides under the wi>'?^ 
Jtrownish black, crossed with regular zigzag lines 
whitish ; vent, rump, tail, and tail-coverts, black ; 1'^ 
and feet, dark ash. 
Tlie female has the upper part of the head 
brown, rest of the head and part of the neck, a 1'- 
sooty brov^■H ; upper )jart of the breast, ashy brO'yiJ 
broadly skirted with whitish ; back, dark ash, 
little or no appearance of white pencilling; wings, b* ’ 
and feet nearly alike in both se.xes. f 
Tiiis diK^k is sometimes met with in the rivers ® 
North and South Carolina, and also in those of 
and New York, but generally in fresh water, and usu* ■ 
* Loral names given to one and the same duck, 
tlie polxer. 
It is 
