82 
BUFFEL-HEADED DECK. 
inland ponds, which they seemed loth to leave, for, although repeatedly shot 
at, they would return. Their food is much varied according to situation. 
On the sea-coast, or in estuaries, they dive after shrimps, small fry, and 
bivalve shells ; and in fresh water, they feed on small crayfish, leeches, and 
snails, and even grasses. 
Not having found any of these birds in Labrador or Newfoundland, lam 
unable to say anything as to their nests. Dr. Richardson states, that they 
frequent the rivers and fresh-water lakes throughout the Fur Countries in 
great numbers, but does not mention having observed them breeding. As 
in almost all other species of this family, the young of both sexes in autumn 
resemble the adult female. Mr. Townsend has found this species on the 
streams of the Rocky Mountains, and it has been observed as far westward 
as Monterey in New California. 
Buffel-headed Duck, Anas albeola, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 51. 
Fuligula albeola, Bonap. Syn., p. 394. 
Clangula albeola, Spirit Duck, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 458 
Spirit Duck, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 445. 
Buffel-headed Duck, Fuligula albeola, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 217. 
Male, 14* , 23. Female, 13, 22*. 
Distributed throughout the country and along the Atlantic shores during 
autumn, winter, and spring. Texas, Upper California, Columbia river. 
Breeds very far north. 
Adult Male. 
Bill much shorter than the head, comparatively narrow, deeper than broad 
at the base, gradually depressed towards the end, which is rounded. Upper 
mandible with the dorsal line straight and sloping to the middle, then nearly 
straight, at the end decurved ; the ridge broad and flat at the base, narrowed 
between the nostrils, convex towards the end, the sides convex, the edges 
soft, with about thirty-five lamellm, the unguis oblong. Nostrils sub-medial, 
linear, pervious, nearer the ridge than the margin. Lower mandible flat, 
ascending, curved at the base, the angle long, rather narrow, the dorsal line 
very slightly convex, the edges with about forty lamellas, the unguis broadly 
elliptical. 
Head rather large, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Neck short and 
thick. Body compact, depressed. Feet very short, placed far back, tarsus 
very short, compressed, having anteriorly in its whole length a series of 
small scutella, and above the outer toe a few broad scales, the rest covered 
with, reticular angular scales. Hind toe very small, with a free membrane 
beneath ; anterior toes longer than the tarsus, connected by reticulated mem- 
branes, having a sinus on their free margins, the inner with a narrow lobed 
