Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/298

 290 DUCK with slate-colored webs, tipped with white ; tail brownish gray ; the length is about 18 in., and the extent of wings 28. The female has a white band on the forehead, upper parts brownish, below white. It is met with on the coast and in the interior ; it swims, dives, and flies well ; its flesh is said to be excellent. Other species are found in the northern parts of Europe and A>ia, and one in New Zealand ; the European tufted duck is the F. cristata. The genus aythya (Boie), including the canvas-back (see CANVAS-BACK), which by some authors is put in the preceding genus, is represented here also by the red-head (A.Americana, Bonap.); this species has a bluish bill, black toward the end ; in general appearance it resembles the canvas-back, except that the head and upper neck all round are dark chestnut, and the back is grayish brown, barred with fine white lines ; the length is 20 in., extent of wings 33, and weight 2 Ibs. ; in the female the head and neck are brown like the back. The red-head, like the canvas-back, is very common in the Chesapeake, but is rare north of New York ; its flesh is as good as that of the canvas-back, and it is often sold for it to the inexperienced ; it arrives about November, leaving for the north to breed in early spring. The genus bucephala (Baird) contains several well known species, among them the golden-eyed duck (B. Americana, Baird) ; this bird has a black bill, with a white spot between the base and eye ; head with a crest of feathers more than an inch long ; iris bright yellow ; head and up- per neck rich green with purple reflections ; rest of neck and plumage generally white ; back and wings blackish, with a patch of white on the latter formed by the secondaries and tips of the coverts; sides of rump grayish; the length is 20 in., extent of wings 31, and weight about 2 Ibs. ; the female is dull brown above, white below, with dusky wings. This species arrives with the other sea ducks in the autumn from their breeding places in the north ; it is found from high arctic latitudes to Florida, both on the coast and in the interior ; its food consists of mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish, which it procures by diving. Its flight is strong and very rapid, accompanied by a sound which' has caused this bird to be called whistler; the flesh has a fishy taste, which is relished by some; though shy and .difficult to approach, it will generally alight at the decoys of the gunner on the coast. The buffel-headed or spirit duck (B. albeola, Baird) is a miniature representative of the golden-eye ; the bill is blue ; the head crested ; a patch behind the eye, going over the head, and band on the wings, white ; rest of head and hind neck glossy green, with purple re- flections ; fore neck, breast, and sides pure white ; abdomen dusky white ; tail and upper coverts grayish brown ; back and wings black, the latter with a white patch ; length 14 in., extent of wings 23, weight 1 Ib. ; the female is sooty brown above, breast and abdomen soiled white, fore neck ash-colored, with a white band on the sides of the head. This duck re- ceives its common name from the dispropor- tionate size of the head compared with the body ; from its diving habits it is also called dipper ; the flight is very rapid, and its distri- bution extensive ; its flesh is fishy. The har- lequin duck (histrionicus torquatus, Bonap.), beautiful and singularly marked, is much prized as a cabinet specimen ; the bill is yellowish olive ; a broad black streak passes over the top of the head, margined with reddish brown ; front of the eye and a spot behind it white ; a slightly curved white line on the neck ; sides of head and neck purplish blue; a complete ring of white below the middle of the neck ; a band of white in front of the wing, passing on the breast, edged with black ; fore back light blue, becoming black behind ; scapulars white, and secondaries tipped with the same, forming a bar on the wings; fore breast light blue, abdomen brownish ; quills dark brown, tail grayish black ; under the tail at base a white spot; the length is 17 in., extent of wings 26, and weight 1 Ib. ; the female is grayish brown. It is rare on the coast south of Massa- chusetts, but common to the north, especially in the British provinces ; it is shy, an excellent flier and diver, difficult to obtain, and not much prized as food. The long-tailed duck (harelda glacialis, Leach), called also " old wife " and "old squaw," has the bill black at the base, orange yellow at the end, with a bluish gray nail ; iris carmine ; a grayish white patch from the bill to behind the ear ; upper part of head and nape black, narrower in front; neck all round and fore breast chocolate-brown ; back and wing coverts brownish black ; scapulars margined with light brown. This is the male summer plumage ; in winter, the head, neck, fore back, and scapulars are white ; upper parts brownish black, as are the four middle tail feathers; lower parts and the outer tail feathers white. The two median tail feathers extend several inches beyond the others ; length to end of tail feathers 23 in., and extent of wings 30. The feathers are dense and blended ; in the winter it is found in all the Atlantic districts ; it is timid, a swift flier and ready diver ; the flesh is tough and fishy. The pied duck (camptolemus Laforadorius, Gray) has the wing coverts and secondaries white, forming a large patch on the wings ; the cheeks are furnished with bristly feathers ; the bill is orange at the base, black at the end, with the sides of the upper mandible very thin, and the under deeply serrated ; a black band on the top of the head ; rest of head and upper neck white ; in the middle of neck a broad black ring, the same color passing down the back ; lower neck white ; upper breast and sides black; lower plumage brownish black, as are the primaries and their coverts ; the length is 20 in., extent of wings 30, and weight nearly 2 Ibs. ; the female is bluish gray above, ash-gray below, with secondaries and sides