Osberton Ducks in your work. I never saw so many on the water, and for that very reason I am the 
more particular not to allow them to be disturbed ; but there is a reach of still water out of hearinjj of 
the lake, where I hope to be able to get them before the end of the week. I always consider that the 
frost, at least in this neighbourhood, saves the Ducks, as the decoys shorten the numbers of their mess ten 
to one more than the sportsman’s gun ; and even most of the rivers are now frozen up. I am especially 
well situated, and my sanctuary sivarms ; but I have only Mallard, Teal, Widgeon, Pochard, and Tufted 
Ducks In sight. Goosanders fly over, but the j)iece of water is too small for them to stay on it. I cannot 
recollect tlie time when the water has been without two or three ])alrs of Tufted Ducks from November 
to April; but I believe the first instance of their breeding here was in the year 1853 or ’54. The nest 
was found by the keeper, and shown to me. To the best of my recollection it contained six eggs, of 
which I took four, placing three in the collection at this place, and giving one to Sir William Milner. 
The keepers at Clumber spoke to having observed broods on that lake a year or two previously. The nest 
I saw was thatched like a Mag])ie’s ; but I am told that those which have been found here since were 
not roofed. The Tufted Ducks have lately increased in number, I believe in consequence of the introduction 
of the American weed. During the frost we have had as many as forty together. We never find them in 
the river above or below the lake, except in a reach of still water which acts as a mill-dam. I noted 
that, when two or more are in company, one always remains as a sentry while the others are under 
water. They begin to leave in March ; but two or three pairs annually remain till June and have 
occasionally brought off their broods in July. I do not allow the nests to be searched for or the 
birds at all disturbed. The nest mentioned aboA^e was built of rushes, or what we call ‘ flags,’ and 
partially concealed amongst those growing close to the edge of the water. I have heard of eight eggs 
in one nest ; and I believe, at Lord Galway’s, at Serlby, a brood of eight was hatched off.” 
The late Mr. John Wolley Informed me that the Tufted Duck also breeds freely at Osmaston and other 
places in Derbyshire ; but these have originated in tamed birds. 
Like the other Fuligullne Ducks, this species flies rapidly and directly, swims AAith the utmost ease and 
very quickly, and dives so expertly that it is with difficulty shot on the water ; and by this means readily 
escapes from the decoy, as, instead of rising and flying forward when within the tunnel, it immediately 
dives and returns to the open pool : it is by diving, also, that it obtains its food, which, Avhen among lakes, 
pools, marshes, and the still parts of rivers, chiefly consists of insects, testaceous mollusks, and worms ; at 
sea, malidy of bivalve mollusca. Its flesh is tender and well flavoured, but is not in much demand ; still it 
is not uncommon in the markets, where it is sometimes sold under the name of Black Widgeon. 
Speaking of the bird in Ireland, Thompson says : — “ At that beautiful sheet of water, Ballydrain Lake, 
this species is seen to great advantage. When it was frozen over on the 27th of January, 1833, in addition 
to a few wild Ducks and Teal, a number of Tufted Ducks appeared in conqiany with Pochards. During 
February the Tufted Ducks continued there ; and on the 3rd of March, a warm day for the season, twenty- 
six males, with fine crests and pure white sides, and twenty-five females, with apparently no crests, brownish 
sides, and generally of a brownish black colour, were congregated together. About a dozen Pochards, too, 
appeared, Avith their bills concealed in their dorsal plumage, — a favourite position of the Fuligulce when 
quietly resting on the calm Avaters of an inland lake or the sea by day ; at full tide, in particular, they are 
thus seen sleeping or enjoying their rest after the toil of flight or feeding during the preceding night.” 
The folloAving details were taken from the three examples shot by Mr. Foljambe, and kindly sent me to 
form the subjects of the accompanying illustration. They consisted of tAvo males and a female ; one of the 
former weighed tAvo pounds and two ounces, the other male and the female an ounce less than two pounds 
each. A white band across the primaries and partially across the secondaries of both sexes must show 
A^ery conspicuously during flight, but not so Avhen the Avings are closed. The crown and crest of the male is 
purplish black ; the cheeks and upper part of the head appear purple in one light and deep green in 
another ; the tertiaries and tail-feathers are bronzy broAvn ; centre of the back, upper surface, chest, and anal 
region black, the latter minutely freckled Avith broAvn ; the remainder of the plumage Avhite, freckled 
AA'ith broAAui on the flanks ; irides brilliant orange-yellow; bill beautiful bluish grey; tarsi greyish broAvn. 
The female is chestnut-broAvn Avhere the male is black, has the anal region Avhite, the irides not so fine 
as in the opposite sex and inclining to light broAvn, and a fcAv light feathers In the front of the face. With 
respect to these light feathers, Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., informs me that he is “ quite sure they are a 
mark of youth, though ignored by British authors, and that they exist in very young females and, perhaps, 
in males.” 
The figures represent the tAvo sexes, of the natural size. 
