behind the eye, both mingling their long pendent plumes with the green and violet ones, producing a rich effect; throat white, whence proceeds a white crescent-shaped line nearly reaching to the eye, and below this is a second line tending to the nape; back glossy brown; scapulars glossed with green; tail-coverts long and silky, and of a glossy greenish black; tail dark green; breast dark brown, with minute triangular spots of white, and bounded below the shoulders with a large crescent of white, margined by another of black; sides marked with minute undulating lines of black on a yellowish ground, besides which the large feathers nearest the wings when folded are ornamented with broad alternate semicircular bands of black and white. Rest of under surface white. Bill red, margined with black, and with a black line down the top; legs yellowish red. Length nineteen inches.

As in most of the race, the female differs very considerably from her mate, her plumage being much plainer, and chiefly coloured with drab and glossy brown, the fine pencilling of the sides being wanting.

Besides the examples alluded to, we may mention the SHIELDRAKE, (Anas tadorna, LIN.; Tadorna Vulpanser, FLAM.;) the SHOVELLER, characterized by its broad spoon-shaped bill, (Spathulea clypeata, HEM.;) the GADWALL, (Chauliodus Strepera, SWAINS;) the TEAL, (Querquedula Crecca, STEPH.;) and the WIGEON, Mareca Penelope, SELBY;) all well known British birds, agreeing generally in habits and manners.

SECTION II.-THE DIVING DUCKS.

As in the former section, the genera into which the present is thrown are very numerous; we shall, therefore, content ourselves with a few illustrations of the section.

And first, the CANVASS-BACKED DUCK of North America (Fuligula Valisineria.) This celebrated species approaches very closely in form and colouring to the pochard of Europe, (Fuligula ferina, STEPH.) it is, how

ever, considerably larger, and exhibits other points of difference.

The Canvass-backed Duck is unrivalled, according to the statements of those who have tasted it, in the juicy tenderness of its flesh and the delicacy of its flavour; hence it is considered indispensable at all feasts and entertainments in the United States, where the demand occasions sad havoc among the species.

The Canvass-backed Duck "arrives in the United States from the north about the middle of October. A few descend to the Hudson and Delaware; but the great body of these birds resort to the numerous rivers belonging to and in the neighbourhood of the Chesapeake Bay, particularly the Susquehannah, the Patasco, Potowmac, and James' rivers, which appear to be their general winter rendezvous. Beyond this to the south there is no certain accounts of them. They are seldom found at a great distance up any of these rivers, or even in the salt water bay, but in that particular part of the tide water where a certain grass-like plant grows, on the roots of which they feed. This plant, which is said to be a species of Valisineria, grows on fresh water shoals of from seven to nine feet, (but never where these are occasionally dry,) in long, narrow, grass-like blades of four or five feet in length; the root is white, and has some resemblance to small celery. This grass is in many places so thick that a boat can with difficulty be rowed through it. The shores are lined with large quantities of it, torn up by the Ducks, and drifted up by the winds, lying like hay in wind-rows. Wherever this plant grows in abundance, there the Canvass-backs may be expected either to pay occasional visits, or make it their regular residence during the winter; while in waters unprovided with this nutritive plant they are altogether unknown. On the first arrival of these birds in the Susquehannah, near Havre de Grace, they are generally lean; but such is the abundance of their favourite food, that towards the beginning of November they are in pretty good order. They are excellent divers, and swim with great speed and agility. They sometimes assemble in such multitudes as

to cover several acres of the river, and when they rise suddenly, produce a noise resembling thunder. They float about these shoals, diving and tearing up the grass by the roots, which is the only part they eat. They are extremely shy, and can rarely be approached, unless by stratagem. When only wounded in the wing, they dive to such prodigious distances, and with such rapidity, continuing it so perseveringly and with such cunning and active vigour as almost always to render the pursuit hopeless. From the great demand for these Ducks, and the high prices they uniformly bring in the market, various modes are practised to get within gun-shot of them." The most successful is by enticing them towards the shore by means of a dog, which is taught to play about, so as to attract their curiosity; when, on their approaching within due distance, the gunner, concealed in ambush, pours a destructive fire among them. The breeding places of this species are in the high northern latitudes, whither it returns on the opening of the spring.

The neck of the Canvass-back is of a rich chestnut, merging into black on the back and breast, when it terminates abruptly; the back is white, beautifully pencilled with fine transverse wavy lines of dusky black; breast and under surface white, pencilled like the back, but more obscurely; quill-feathers pale slate, becoming dusky toward the tips; tail very short, and of a grayish brown; bill very stout at the base, and glossy black; legs pale ash. Length two feet. The trachea of the male is furnished with a large flattish labyrinth. The female is more dull in her plumage, and obscure in all the markings.

Our next example is a Duck even more celebrated than the Canvass-back; it is the EIDER DUCK, (Somateria mollissima, LEACH.) Few of our readers are unacquainted with the name of this water-fowl, which produces the celebrated down, exceeding that of every other bird in its fineness, lightness, and elasticity. The Eider Duck is truly oceanic in its habitat, never being found in rivers or fresh water lakes. On the land it is sluggish

and inactive, walking with great awkwardness, but on its congenial element it is active and alert, swimming and diving with spirit and rapidity. Its native habitation is the Arctic Sea; hence it is found in great abundance along

the shores of Iceland, Greenland, Lapland, Spitzbergen, and those of Baffin's and Hudson's Bays. Its native name among the Esquimaux is Mittek. On the coasts of England it is seldom seen, and then only in consequence of having been driven by stress of weather into our latitudes. In Scotland it is of more common occurrence, and is indeed abundant in the Hebrides and northern isles, where it annually breeds. One of the numerous tribes whose labours man turns to his own benefit, the Eider Duck is a welcome guest upon the shores of the northern world, where the inhabitants take every means to protect and encourage it. The Greenlanders, it is true, chase it for the sake both of its flesh and skin; the former of which, though rank, is valued by them as food; the latter is made up into articles of clothing of singular warmth and comfort. Their mode of taking the Eider

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Duck is by hunting it in their boats, with darts, with which they strike the bird as it rises fatigued to the surface, after long and repeated diving, in order to escape pursuit. These people, however, may be considered as an exception to the general rule, since other nations, selfish though the motives be, are anxious to promote the breed; for it is from its nest that the finest down is obtained, and the more numerous these nests the greater the spoil. This beautiful species is of recluse habits, disliking interruption, though it is not particularly timid; hence it chooses for its breeding place low flat islands along the coast, in preference to the main land; and these islands are tacitly given up to it as its peculiar territory. Here, then, numbers assemble during the summer months, for the purpose of incubation. The nest is placed on the ground, and constructed of marine plants, thickly lined with soft down, which the female plucks from her own breast, and disposes around her so as to form an elevated ridge, which falls in and covers the eggs the moment she leaves them. As long as the female is sitting, the male continues out at sea, and returns in the evening to his mate, whom it is not improbable he relieves during the night. The downy lining of the nest, which is so much prized, is thus secured; as soon as the nests are made, and a number of eggs deposited in them, the collectors go round, and carefully remove the female, who seems so absorbed in her duty as to lose all sense of danger; they then take away the down and superfluous eggs, and after this replace her; she then reconstructs her nest, and lays afresh, when a second robbery takes place, and a third time does she proceed to the task with untired patience, assisted by the male, who is now obliged to furnish the greater part of the down himself. If the unjust robbery be again repeated, the birds generally leave the place: it is therefore usual to permit them to proceed with the task of incubation. The quantity of down thus obtained from a single female is said to amount to half a pound, which is reduced to half by the process of cleaning. "This down," says Shaw, "is of such value, that, when in its purity, it is sold in Lapland for two rix