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Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813. / American ornithology; or The natural history of the birds of the United States
(1829)

Species 21. Anas fuligula. Tufted duck,   pp. [356]-359


Page [356]


SPECIES 21. dNdS FULIGULM8.*
                     TUFTED DUCK.
                  [Plate LXVII.-Fig. 5.]
Jrct. Zool. p. 5731.-Le petit Morillon, BRISS. VI, 411. 26. pl. o37.
  1.-BUFF. IX, p. 227. 2S31. pl. 15.-LATH. Syn. iII, p. 540.-
  PEALE'S MIuseum, A'o. 2904.
  THIS is an inhabitant of both continents; it frequents fresh
water rivers, and seldom visits the seashore. 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 sel-
dom seen in market. They are most common about the begin-
ning 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, some-
times 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 middle by a
band of deep chestnut; lower part of the neck black, which
spreads quite round to the back; back and scapulars black, minute-
ly 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.
* .nas rufitorqiues, 1BONAPA1RTE, Journal of the fcademy of .Nfatitral Sciences
of
Phifladelphia, Ty  1- p. 3 858; y1. I3 . fg. 6, the trachea.


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