GEsner takes that Duck they call Circia to be of the kind of the lesser * 1.1 Querquedulae: A certain German renders it in High Dutch, Ein Birckilgen, and saith it is so cal∣led from the sound of its voice; that it is like a small Duck, but differs in the colour of the Wings and Belly. For the Wings want those glistering feathers, and the Belly is more spotted.
This kind (so he proceeds) I think is also found in our Lakes, for I saw not long since a small sort of Duck taken in the beginning of January, little bigger than a Dob∣chick, brown all over, having the Bill of a Duck, that is broad and brown: Also dusky coloured Legs and Feet; the Neck an hand-breadth long, the rest of the body six inches. But it was a Hen, and had Eggs in the Belly. The Cock, I guess, hath more beautiful colours. In the Stomach I found nothing but small-stones, and the seeds of some water-plants, almost of the fashion of Lentiles (but lesser and thicker) and reddish. Thus far Gesner.
From this short description, and that too of a Hen bird, we cannot certainly ga∣ther, whether it be a distinct Species from the precedent. But we suspect it was of that bird which our Country men call the Summer-Teal, which Mr. Johnson informs us is of that bigness; for we have not as yet seen it.
Its Bill is black: The whole upper side of a dark grey or light brown; the edges [or extremes] of the feathers in the Back are white. In the Wings is a line or spot of an inch breadth, partly black, partly of a shining green, terminated on both sides with white. In the Tail the feathers are sharp-pointed. The whole under side seems to be white, with a slight tincture of yellow; but on the Breast and lower Bel∣ly are many pretty great black spots. The Legs are of a pale blue, the membranes be∣tween the Toes black. This is the least of all Ducks. In its stomach dissected I found nothing but grass and stones. This description we owe to Mr. Johnson.