358 
TUFTED DUCK. 
a comparative description of the two birds, and named the sub- 
ject of this article rujitorques. 
The American Tufted Duck is said to be common on the 
Ohio, and the Mississippi; Messieurs Say and Peale procured 
it on the Missouri; Lewis and Clark shot it on the Columbia;* 
and myself in East Florida. It is, properly speaking, a fresh 
water Duck, although it is sometimes found on the coast. On 
the Delaware we observe it in the spring and autumn; and, if 
the weather be moderate, we see it occasionally throughout the 
winter. With us it is not a numerous species; and is rather a 
solitary bird, seldom more than four or five being found together. 
It is more common in the month of March than at any other 
time. It is a plump, short-bodied Duck; its flesh tender, and 
well tasted; but in no respect to be compared to that of the 
Canvass-back; it is even inferior to the Mallard. 
The American Tufted Duck is seventeen inches long, and 
twenty-seven inches in breadth; the bill is broad, of a dull blu- 
ish ash colour, the base of the upper mandible marked with a 
stripe of pure white, which extends along its edges, and then 
forms a wider band across near the tip, which is of a deep black 
— this white band changes after death to gray or bluish white; 
irides rich orange; a spot of white on the chin; head tufted, and, 
with the upper part of the neck, black, with reflections of rich 
purple, predominating on the back part of the neck; about the 
middle of the neck there is an interrupted band of a rich deep 
glossy chestnut; throat, lower part of the neck, breast, back, 
scapulars, rump, and tail-coverts, of a silky brownish black; 
primaries and wing-coverts brown; tertials dark brown, with 
strong reflections of green; secondaries pale ash, or bluish white, 
forming the speculum, some tipt with brown and others with 
white; back and scapulars powdered with particles of dull white, 
not to be observed but on a near inspection, and presenting the 
appearance of dust; lower part of the breast, and whole belly, 
white, with a yellowish tinge; vent dusky; sides under the 
* Hist, of the Exped. vol. ii, p. 195, 8vo. 
