Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 22. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 22nd Lecture (ca. 1799): "522. Buffel headed Duck. rather larger than the teal; bill near one Inch & half long, and black; head & neck dark reflecting green and purple; from behind each eye the feathers are white, passing in a broad patch to the back of the heard; the lower part of the neck all round, the breast and under parts, are white; the outer scapulars are white, forming a longitudinal band on each side of the back; which, with the rest of the scapulars, is black; the lesser wing coverts are dusky, edged with white; the middle ones white; the greater down the middle of the wing white; but those on each side black; quills dusky balck, some of the inner ones marked with white on the inner webs; tail cenerious, the three outer feathers edged outwardly with white, the shape of it cuneiform; feet orange, claws black. Anas bucephala Linn. La Sarcelle blanche & noir, ou La Religieuse Buff. pl. enl. 94. Buffel headed Duck Latham No. 75. Pennant No. 489. Buffel head, Catesby pl. 95. Black & white Duck Edwards pl. 100." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Peale continued: "525. Female. smaller than the other; Bill black, irides hazel, head and upper parts deep brown; behind the Eye an oval white spot; throat and under parts pale grey; greater quills deep brown; the lesser ones the same, but outwardly edged with white; forming a patch on the wing; tail brown; feet black. Anas rustica Linn. La Sacelle de la Caroline Buff. Little Brown Duck Catesby No. 98. Latham thinks this the female of the Buffel heard, & Catesby knows it to be a female but he thinks belonging to another male. They are both found throughout the United States and generally called [Di…s]. Latham says they come into Hudson's bay, about […] in June, and make their nest in trees, in the woods, near ponds. Dive often, and rise again at a great distance; hence called by some the spirit Duck." (ANSP Archives, coll. 40)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Buffel-headed Duck / Anas albeola" in American Ornithology vol. 8, published posthumously (Pl. 67), where "Peale's Museum, No. 2730" was cited (Wilson 1814: 51). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175758#page/65/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175758#page/62/mode/1up (plate)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Bufflehead
Current Scientific Name
Anatidae | Bucephala albeola
