TUFTED DUCK. 
81 
TUFTED DUCK-ANAS FULIGULA Plate LXVII. Fig. 5. Male. 
FULIG ULA R UFITOR Q Bonaparte . 
Fuligula rufitorques, JBonap. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phil. — Synop. p 393. — 
North, Zool. ii. p. 453. 
This is an inhabitant of both continents ; it frequents fresh 
water rivers, and seldom visits the sea-shore. It is a plump, 
short-bodied duck ; its flesh generally tender and well tasted. 
They are much rarer than most of our other species, and are 
seldom seen in market. They are most common about the be- 
ginning of winter, and early in the spring. Being birds of 
passage, they leave us entirely during the summer. 
The tufted duck is seventeen inches long, and two feet two 
inches in extent ; the bill is broad, and of a dusky colour, 
sometimes marked round the nostrils and sides with light blue ,* 
head, crested, or tufted, as its name expresses, and of a black 
colour, with reflections of purple ; neck marked near its mid- 
dle by a band of deep chestnut ; lower part of the neck, black, 
which spreads quite round to the back; back and scapulars, black, 
minutely powdered with particles of white, not to be observed 
but on a near inspection ; rump and vent, also black ; wings, 
ashy brown ; secondaries, pale ash, or bluish white ; tertials, 
black, reflecting green ; lower part of the breast and whole 
belly, white ; flanks crossed with fine zigzag lines of dusky ; 
tail, short, rounded, and of a dull brownish black ; legs and 
feet, greenish ash ; webs, black ; irides, rich orange ; stomach 
filled with gravel and some vegetable food. 
In young birds, the head and upper part of the neck are 
purplish brown ; in some, the chestnut ring on the fore part of 
the middle of the neck is obscure, in others very rich and 
glossy, and, in one or two specimens which I have seen, it is 
altogether wanting. The back is in some instances destitute 
VOL. III. F 
