OF NORTH AMERICA. as} 
Habitat — Arcties to the Gulf. This is 
like the next, a deep-water duck, culling its 
food from the bottom and there gathering 
mollusks, fishes, and submarine plants. It is 
often mistaken for the famous Canyas-back, 
which it much resembles and for which it is 
often sold, as the novice can scarcely distin- 
euish the difference, though it is plainly 
marked. The bill is broader and more flat- 
tened, and blue, with a black belt at end, 
while in the latter it is blackish throughout. 
90. CANVAS—-BACK. 
Aythya vallisneria. 
Resembles No. 19 very much, in fact the 
Red-head is often sold for this bird, but the 
head is closer feathered and the bill black, 
not so br oad, and higher at the base ; the back 
is lighter in ceneral. color; eyes of ae red ; 
of female red-brow n; the size is a trifle larger 
than the Red-head. 
Habitat — Same range as the Red-head, and 
its habits apply as well in one case as the 
other. They were formerly abundant on the 
Atlantic coast, and while feeding i in the Chesa- 
peake Bay on the wild celery ( Vallisneria spi- 
ralis), they attained a flavor which gave them 
a world-wide reputation as a table bird, which 
was, In a measure, undeserved, and oe this 
reason were slaughtered in thousands. In 
consequence they are now getting scarce in 
this locality, and the principal supply comes 
