A. nzarila, Lin. &c. Scaup, or White-faced Duck, Prov. Spoon-bill Duck. Bill broad ; a small white spot on the wings. Length from seventeen to eighteen inches; ex tent of wing thirty-two inches ; weight from a pound and a half to two pounds. The Scaup Duck breeds in the northern and cold latitudes of both continents, and migrates southwards in winter, when small flocks visit our shores ; and many of them are observed on the coasts of Holland. They frequent fresh waters, and sometimes even live in subterraneous holes. The sexes keep apart from others of their congeners, make the same grunting noise, and toss their head and open their bill in a singular manner. If taken alive, put into a pond, and fed for a few days on bread soaked in water, they will afterwards eat barley free ly, and become very tame. A sickly female, which was in Colonel Montagu's possession, died of an affection of the lungs. The membrane which separates these from the other viscera was much thickened, and all the internal cavity was covered with mucor, or blue mould.
A. ferina, Lin. &c. Pochard or Red-headed Wigcon. Prov. Vare-headed 1Vigeon, Red-headed Poker, Blue Poker, Attile Duck, Dun-cur, &cc. Bill long ; a broad, transverse, and dark-blue band on the upper mandible. Length from sixteen to seventeen inches, extent of wing two feet and a half; and weight about one pound thirteen ounces. This species leaves its native northern abodes on the approach of winter, and migrates southward as far, it is alleged, as Egypt in the old, and Carolina and Louisi ana in the new continent. They arrive in the marshes of France about the end of October, and great numbers of them used to be caught in the fens of Lincolnshire dur ing the winter season, and sold in the London markets, where they and the female wigeon are indiscriminately called dun-birds, and are esteemed excellent eating. The female nestles in reeds, in the northern countries, and lays as many as twelve or thirteen eggs, of a greenish white.
4. clangula, Lin. &c. Golden Eye, or Golden Eye Duck, Prov. Pied Wigeon. Bill very short ; base broader than the tip ; nostrils situated near the latter ; tarsi and toes yellowish ; much white on the wings. Length from eighteen to nineteen inches; extent of wing thirty-one inches ; and weight from twenty-six ounces to two pounds. The golden eye is a native of the arctic regions of both continents, although some pairs have been known to breed in more temperate latitudes. In their winter migrations, they spread along our sea coasts, and even visit inland lakes, greedily preying on testacea, small fish, and even frogs, mice, &c. They are admirable divers, and glide
on the calm surface of the sea with singular gracefulness, but are proportionably awkward and embarrassed on the land. Though not clamorous in taking flight, they pro duce a peculiar whistling noise, by the vigorous strokes of their wings. It has been likewise remarked, that they fly low, and seldom alight on dry ground. They are far from numerous on our shores, and seldom occur in large bodies. They return northward late in the spring, and usually breed among marshy plants, but sometimes in trees. The nest consists of a heap of dried grasses, negligently enough put together, and on which the female deposits from seven to fourteen white eggs, rather smaller than those of the common hen. The incubation lasts eighteen days ; and the young, immediately on escaping from the shell, accom pany their mother to the water.
4. histrionica, Lin. &c. Harlequin Duck. Bill short, compressed; nail much hooked; nostrils closely approxi mated at the upper part of the base of the bill ; length seventeen inches. Inhabits the northern quarters of Eu rope, Asia, and America, retiring southward, or to the sea, during the intense cold of the arctic winter, but very rarely visiting this country. It breeds among bushes and herbs, near the water, and lays twelve or fourteen pure white eggs. it is esteemed more delicate game than the mallard.
Mcanus, Lin. Stc.
Bill middle-sized, or long, slender, in the form of a 7.engthened cone, and almost cylindrical; base broad; tip and upper mandibles much hooked, and furnished with a nail; the edges of both mandibles serrated in a backward direction; nostrils lateral, about- the middle of the bill, elliptical, longitudinal, and pervious ; legs short, placed backwards on the abdomen, the three front toes complete ly webbed, the hinder detatched, with the rudiments of a member ; wings middle-sized. The birds of this tribe are nearly allied to the ducks, residing on the water, and usual ly swimming with the body submerged, the head only ap pearing above the surface. They dive frequently, and with great facility ; while, by means of their wings, they can advance quickly under water. They are capable, too, of sustaining a protracted and rapid flight, but they walk with an embarrassed and waddling pace. They feed princi pally on fish and amphibious reptiles. Their appropriate and breeding stations are in the cold latitudes ; and they appear in the temperate regions only in winter. The males moult in the spring; and the females and the young in autumn. All attempts to reduce them to domestication seem to have failed of success.