BRANTA RUFINA 
Red-crested Duck. 
Anas nifina, Pall. Reise, tom. ii. p. 713. 
Branta rufina. Bole, Isis, 1822, p. 664. 
Fuligula rufina, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. ZooL, vol. xii. p. 188, pi. 54. 
Callichen ruficeps, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl., p. 922. 
rufinus, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl., p. 924, tab. 42. fig. 4. 
Netta rufina, Kaup, Naturl. Syst., p. 102. 
Mergoides rufina, Eyton, Cat. of Brit. Birds, p. 57. 
Aythya rufina, Macgill. Man. Nat. Hist., Orn., vol. ii. p. 191. 
So many instances are on record of the occurrence of tliis fine Duck in England, that I have no hesitation in 
following my contemporaries in giving it a place in our avifauna, and a figure of it in the present work. It 
must, however, be regarded as a southern and eastern rather than a northern species, and consequently as 
an accidental visitor to our islands. That it is tolerably common in North Africa is certain, since the late 
Captain Loche states, in his ‘ Catalogue des Mammiferes et des Oiseaux observes en Algerie ’ that it is 
abundant on all the great lakes of that country; and Mr. Salvin, in his ‘Five Months’ Birds’-nesting in the 
Eastern Atlas,’ states that he frequently saw several pairs in the open pools at the upper end of the marsh 
of Zana ; where two nests were obtained, one of which contained seven eggs, of a most brilliant fresh green 
colour while unblown, but which, when the contents were expelled and the shells had become dry, were sadly 
diminished in beauty. As we might reasonably infer, its range extends in an easterly direction from this 
country to India; for we learn, from Mr. Jerdon’s work on the birds of that country, that it is there 
found throughout the greater part of the peninsula, but is more rare in the south. It chiefly frequents 
the larger tanks and jheels, generally keeps to the middle part of the water, and is a wary bird, not usually 
allowing a near approach. Its flesh is juicy, tender, and high-flavoured, and by some persons is considered 
the finest Duck for the table. A writer in the ‘ India Sporting Review ’ remarks that “ during the day the 
Red-crested Ducks are constantly on the move, now pursuing one another, now screaming, all up at once, 
then down again.” I have received specimens from the Himalayas ; and Colonel Sykes includes it in 
the ‘ Birds of the Deccan,’ but observes that it is rare in that part of India. According to Dr. Latham, it in- 
habits the vast lakes of the desert of Tartary, and is sometimes seen on the great lakes lying on the east side 
the Uralian Mountains, but not elsewhere in Siberia. 
The Branta rufina is included in works on the birds of Germany, is mentioned by Necker in his notice of 
the birds of Geneva, has been observed at Genoa ; Savi includes it in his ‘ Ornithology of Italy ;’ and “ it will 
be recollected,” says Mr. Yarrell, “ that our celebrated countryman Will ughby obtained this duck in the mar- 
ket at Rome.” Badly states that it is rare in Savoy, and, when it occurs, generally arrives towards the end 
of winter or the beginning of spring, sometimes in couples, at others in small parties of from three to six in 
number ; and he adds that in Switzerland, where it is more numerous, it arrives about the same time. Accord- 
ing to Degland it is found on the shores of the Black Sea and in various parts throughout France. Benoit, in 
his ‘ Ornitologia Siciliana,’ states that it is common and stationary, especially during winter and spring, in 
some parts of Sicily, but that large accessions are seen to arrive from the eastward. Mr. H. E. Dresser 
informs me that the bird is not uncommon at a lake called “ Albufueras,” near Valencia, in Spain, and is 
often to be bought in the market of that city. He was told by a person who lives close to the lake that it 
breeds there, but he knew nothing of its habits. Lord Lilford found it common at Butrinto during the 
first winter he passed at Corfu, but saw very few the succeeding one. Temminck states that the Red- 
crested Duck inhabits the countries of North-eastern Europe, and migrates periodically over the Caspian 
Sea to Hungary, Austria, and Turkey, less regularly to the great lakes of Switzerland, but never resorts to 
the shores of the Ocean : that it also visits Holland is certain ; for I have myself found the bird in the fiesh in 
our London market, among a great mass of ducks sent to us from that country. This brings us nearly home 
to England, where, as before stated, it has several times been killed. 
“ I had the pleasure,” says Mr. Yarrell, “ of first noticing this handsome Duck as an occasional visitor to 
this country in January 1826, when a male was shot near Boston while feeding in fresh water in company 
with some Widgeons. Though a well-known species, it had not previously been recorded to have been killed 
in England. During the same winter several others were obtained ; more than one occurred in the London 
markets, and were eagerly purchased for collectors. Since then a specimen has been killed at Yarmouth, 
another at Colchester; and the female figured by Mr. Gould, in his ‘ Birds of Europe,’ was killed out of a 
flock of eighteen on the Thames, near Erith, in Kent.” 
