ÏÏATAT-ORÉS. ' _ . ^ ' ! ANATIDÆ.
ST E L L ER ’S W E S T E R N DUCK.
Fuligula dispafr', ' Weptqrn Poahkrdi: -&%£by, Brit. Ornith. vol.^. p. 360.
3 .'r— t) „ jENYN^'ferit. Vert, pr 243. „
| Duck, _Goued|B irds of Europe, pt. xviii. L
Polysticta Stelleri, ' „ „ , Eyton, Rare Brit. Birds,_p. 79.
Anas dispar, Canard de.Steller, Temm. Man. d’,Ornith. vol. iv. p. 547.
A s in g l e example of this rare species of Duck was shot on
the 10th of February,L830, at Caistor, abouLJhree- miles
north of Yarmouth, in Norfolk, and was soGU afterwards
presented to the Norwich Museum % the Rev. George
Steward, as stated by Messrs. C. and J . Paget, in their
Sketch of the Natural History of Yarmouth and its neighbourhood.
It has since been noticed by the various authors
above named, whose synonyms are quoted, and by the kindness
of Mr. Charles Bucklerr who allowed me the use of a
drawing taken by himself from the bird at Norwich, I am
(l enabled to give an exact representation of the only British
killed specimen that I -am acquainted with. It is a male
very closely approaching thé^erfect plumage, pf an adult.
This- -species of Duck has.- now been killed three or four
times in • Sweden^ and" once in Denmark. Professor Nilsson,
~in his Fauna of Scandinavia,- has igiven coloured figures of
both sexes ; and M. Temminck further remarks that it visits
the Eastern parts of thé North of Europef and has occasionally
wandered into Germany.
It-Inhabits Asia and North America; ; was originally described,
from specimens obtained- by ;Steller^ in Kamtsehatka,
whèf^lfibrëeds upon rocksUtiaccessiblWo man. Dr Latham
mentions Jhâ-t. there was a specimen formerly in the Leverian
Museum:- Examples have been brought from the Western
side of North America, and it was in consequence called the
Western Duck, and Anas occiduà; The description of the
plumage of the adult male here given was taken from a
beautiful specimen in the possession of Mr. John Leadbeater.
I t ià stated, of this species that it flies in flocks, and never
enters the mouths of rivers. Its food is marine insects, with
molluscà naked and testaceous.
I t will be observed that some of the English authors
quoted undfefthe figure of the bird, have considered it a Fuligula,
and havé arranged it among the Pochards, not, however,
without some doubts that this would probably be found
not t#"bifits natural situation. The anatomy, which I believe
is as Unknown, will at some future time indicate the proper
location1; ’but in its general character and appearance, with
its habit of breeding on high and steep rocks, it appears to
me to be more closely allied to the Eider Duck, and I have
accordingly placed it next in succession to that species.
In the adult male the bill is brownish-black ; the irides
pale brown ; found the eye a narrow ring of black ; between