along the edge of the lower mandible }:g; tarsus middle toe 1T\,
its claw i | . Weight 7 oz.
Adult Female. Plate CCXXXIII. Fig. 2.
The Female differs considerably from the Male in colouring. The
naked parts and iris are similar, as are the upper parts generally ; but the
black around the base of the bill, on the head, and fore neck is wanting,
the fore part of the head being light brown, the chin whitish, the sides of
the neck light greyish-brown. The white lines of the back are duller,
and the dark bands of the sides of a lighter tint.
Young Male. Plate CCXXXIII. Fig. 3.
The Young Male, after its first moult, is intermediate in colouring
between the adult male and the female, but more like the latter, the black
on the head and fore neck appearing in spots, and the sides of the neck
being nearly as in the female.
T H E R I N G - N E C K E D D U C K.
FULIGULA RUFITORQUES, BoNAP.
PLATE CCXXXIV. MALE AND FEMALE.
THE Ring-necked Duck is abundant on all our western waters during
autumn and winter. It is also met with along our Atlantic coasts; but
there, although I have seen many individuals on the Chesapeake and
other large arms of the sea, it is by no means so plentiful as in the interior.
Its flesh is excellent, equalling in my opinion that of any other
duck; and when it has been feeding along the margins of rivers, creeks,
or ponds for a few weeks, it becomes very fat, tender, and juicy, and has
none of the fishy flavour of those species which are in the habit of diving
deep for their food. In shape, the Tufted Duck, or Ring-bill, as it is
called in Kentucky, resembles the Scaup or Flocking Fowl, but is plumper
and more rounded.
This bird arrives in Kentucky and the neighbouring States, as far
down the Mississippi as New Orleans, from the 20th of September to the
middle of October, at which latter period it may be found in tli3 whole
extent of the Union, from Massachusetts to Louisiana, being more numerous
in some districts than in others, according to the suitableness of the
place. They commonly move while on wing in flocks of from fifteen to
twenty individuals, keeping rather scattered, and thus rarely affording
what is called a good shot. They fly with rapidity, keeping at a considerable
height, and the motion of their wings produces a constant whistling
as they pass over head. Before alighting, they wheel and perform
various evolutions, although they do not occupy so much time with them
as Teals are wont to do.
They swim rather lightly and with ease, and, unlike the Scaups, experience
no difficulty in rising on wing, whether from the land or from
the water, but generally spring up at once, especially i f alarmed. They
have an almost constant practice of raising the head in a curved manner,
partially erecting the occipital feathers, and emitting a note resembling
the sound produced by a person blowing through a tube. At the approach
of spring the males are observed repeating this action every now
it 2