Part 142

Bill shorter than the head, very high at the base; tail short, graduated, of sixteen feathers. Male in summer with the bill black, feet orange-yellow, webs dusky; head and upper part of neck deep greenish-blue, changing to deep dusky purple; back, posterior scapulars, inner secondaries, edge of wing, alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and outer four secondaries black; an oblong curved or semilunar patch of white between the bill and eye; lower part of neck all round, sides of the body anteriorly, lower parts generally, scapulars, excepting their margins, which are black, a broad band across the wing formed by the first row of small coverts, and several of the others, of which the base only is black, and a large patch formed by the tips of some of the secondary coverts, and six of the secondary quills, pure white; the two patches on the wings separated by an intervening band of black; axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts dusky; elongated feathers of the sides with the inner, some of them also the outer margins, and many with a large portion of the tip black, that colour on those of the innermost covering the whole inner webs; tail brownish-grey. Male in winter similar, but with the white patch on the side of the head elliptical, and the black band separating the white patches on the wing not apparent, although seen on turning aside the tips of the smaller coverts. Female with the bill dusky, but having a portion toward the end yellow; head and upper part of neck dull reddish-brown; lower part of the neck and sides of the body brownish-grey, the feathers margined with pale grey, the rest of the lower parts white; upper parts greyish-brown, much darker behind; wings brownish-black, seven of the coverts, unless at the base, white; the small coverts lighter and tipped with grey; tail brownish-grey.

Male, 20, 31-1/2. Female, 16, 28.

Abundant during winter on all the running streams of the interior, as well as along the Atlantic coast, as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds in high northern latitudes. Accidental in the North-eastern Districts. Rocky Mountains, and Columbia River.

Golden-eye, Anas Clangula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 62.

Fuligula Clangula, Bonap. Syn. p. 393.

Clangula vulgaris, Common Golden-eye, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 456.

Clangula Barrovii, Rocky-mountain Garrot, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 453.

Common Golden-eye, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 441.

Golden-eye Duck, Fuligula Clangula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 318; v. v. p. 105.

408. 13. Fuligula dispar, Gmel. Western Duck.

Plate CCCCXXX. Male.

Bill shorter than the head, greyish-blue; tail rather short, pointed, of fourteen feathers; upper part of head and broad band surrounding the neck, white; throat and some feathers around the eye black; a light green patch in the loral space, and a transverse patch of the same on the nape, margined behind and laterally with black; a broad band on the neck and the whole of the back velvet-black, with green reflections; smaller wing-coverts white; secondary coverts bluish-black, terminating in a broad white band; elongated secondaries and scapulars with the inner web white, the outer black, with blue reflections; primaries and coverts brownish-black; tail black, as are the lower tail-coverts and abdomen; the breast and sides reddish-buff, fading towards the shoulders and neck into pure white; a bluish-black spot on each side of the lower part of the neck anterior to the wing.

Male, 16; wing, 8-3/4.

North-west coast.

Anas dispar and Anas Stelleri, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 535, 518.

Fuligula Stelleri, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Western Duck, Fuligula dispar, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 253.

409. 14. Fuligula Albeola, Linn. Buffel-headed Duck.--Spirit Duck. Butter-box. Dipper. Die-dipper. Marrionette.

Plate CCCXXV. Male and Female.

Bill much shorter than the head, light greyish-blue; feet pale flesh-colour; feathers of head and upper part of neck elongated; tail short, graduated, of sixteen feathers; fore part of head of a deep rich green, upper part rich purplish-blue, as are the elongated feathers on the fore part and sides of the neck; the hind part of the latter deep green; a broad band of pure white from one cheek to the other over the occiput; rest of the neck, lower parts, outer scapulars, and a large patch on the wing, including the greater part of the small coverts, and some of the secondary coverts and quills, pure white, the scapulars narrowly margined with black, as are the inner lateral feathers; axillars brownish-black, some of them white on the margin and towards the end; lower wing-coverts brownish-black, the smaller tipped with white; back, inner scapulars, and secondary quills velvet-black; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills deep black; rump gradually fading to greyish-white; tail-feathers brownish-grey, with the tips whitish. Female much smaller, with the feathers of the head not elongated, unless in the median line; bill darker, feet greyish-blue; head, upper part of neck, hind neck, back, and wings, greyish-brown; a short transverse white band from beneath the eye, and a slight speck of the same on the lower eyelid; six of the secondary quills white on the outer web; lower parts white, shaded into light greyish-brown on the sides.

Male, 14-1/2, 23. Female, 13, 22-1/4.

Distributed throughout the country and along the Atlantic shores during autumn, winter, and spring. Texas, Upper California, Columbia River. Breeds very far north.

Buffel-headed Duck, Anas albeola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 51.

Fuligula albeola, Bonap. Syn. p. 394.

Clangula albeola, Spirit Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 458.

Spirit Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 445.

Buffel-headed Duck, Fuligula albeola, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 217.

410. 15. Fuligula histrionica, Linn. Harlequin Duck.