December 9, 1774

Posted by sydney on Dec 9th, 1774

Almost continual frost from Nov. 20: & some snow frequently falling.  Mergus serratus, the Dun-diver, a very rare bird in these parts, was shot in James Knight’s ponds just as it was emerging from the waters with a considerable tench in it’s Mouth.  It’s head, & part of the neck, was of a deep rust-colour.  On the back part of the head was a considerable crest of the same hue.  The sexes in this species, Ray observes, differ so widely, that writers have made two species of them.  It appears from Ray’s description that my specimen with the rust-coloured head was a female, called in some parts the sparlin-fowl; & is, he supposes, the female Goosander.

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