WILD FOWL. 
85 
RING-NECKED, OR TUFTED DUCK. 
Fuligula Rufitorques; Bonap. Tufted Duck, Anas Fuligula, 
Wils. Ring-necked Duck, Anas (Fuligula) Rufitorques ; Sw. 
8f Rich. Ring-necked Duck, Fuligula Rufitorques; Nutt. Ring¬ 
necked Duck, Fuligula Rufitorques ; Aud. 
“Specific Character. —Head tufted ; bill about two inches long, 
very high at the base, the ridge at the base unusually broad, at 
the base margined with a rather broad band of yellowish-green ; 
a broader band of the same color between the nostrils and the 
tip ; the remaining part of the bill dark slate-color; speculum or 
wing spot bluish-gray. Adult male with the plumage of the 
head and upper part of the neck black, with purple reflections ; 
at the base of the lower mandible, a triangular white spot; the 
middle of the neck encircled with chestnut; the upper part of 
the breast black; abdomen white, spotted with brown and 
tinged with yellow; flanks ash-gray, undulated with lines of 
white and dusky; vent and lower part of the abdomen dark- 
brown, undulated with faint lines of white ; lower tail coverts 
blackish-brown, tail brown; upper tail coverts darker; back 
blackish-brown ; primaries the same color; scapulars and lesser 
coverts greenish-black; outer secondaries, outer webs, light slate 
color, tipped with white; inner webs brown, inner secondaries 
dark-green; secondary coverts brown. Length eighteen inches, 
wing seven and three-quarters. 
“ Female with a band of white on the forehead; head and neck 
brown; larger portion of the breast and abdomen white ; the 
sides of the body brown. About two inches shorter than the 
male. 
“ This bird in general markings is not unlike the Scaup Duck, 
but it can at all times be readily distinguished by the slate- 
colored markings on the wings. By our gunners generally, il 
is considered a hybrid, and familiar to them by the name of 
‘ Bastard Broad-bill.’ Along the sea-coast it is not very abund¬ 
ant ; still a few are observed almost every spring and autumn 
