ANATID.E THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DJJCKS. 161 



U I 



: This species," says Dr. Brewer, "in and around Chesapeake 

 Bay, has long been regarded as preeminent for the richness and 

 delicacy of the flavor of its flesh; and it is claimed by many 

 that no wild-fowl in any part of the world can vie in this re- 

 spect with the Canvas-back of these waters. It has been hunted 

 on the Chesapeake and its tributaries with unrelenting greed, 

 until its numbers have been greatly reduced, and many have 

 been driven to more southern regions. This bird always com- 

 mands a ready sale; and even when sent to the market by 

 thousands, always brings a high price. While a few Canvas- 

 backs are met with in the waters of the Hudson, the Delaware, 

 and in other eastern rivers, by far the larger portion of them 

 resort to Chesapeake Bay and adjacent waters. Of late years, 

 its numbers have greatly increased along the short rivers of 

 INorth Carolina. It is also found in abundance on the western 

 lakes, and is particularly numerous on Lake Koskonong, in 

 southern Wisconsin. In March I have seen the markets of 

 Chicago well supplied with this duck ; and although they are in 

 no wise superior to the Mallard, the Pin-tail, the Teals, and 

 other ducks, yet commanding twice the market price of any 

 other species." 



SUBGENUS FULIGULA STEPHENS. 



7 iiliguia STEPHENS, Gen. Zool. xii, pt. ii, 1824,187. Type, by elimination. Anns fuligula 



LINN. 

 Fulix SUNDEV. Kong. Vet. Ak. Hand, 1835, 129. (No type designated, but restricted to the 



group of which Anas mar i la LINN, is typical, by Professor BAIBD, in B. N. Am. 1858, 



790.) 



Marila BONAP. Compt. Eend. xliii. Sept. 1856, 651. (Not of REICHENBACH. 1852.) 

 Nettarion BAIKD, B. N. Am. 1858, 790 (in text). Type, Anas marila, LINN. 



SUBGEN. CHAR. Bill longer than the tarsus (about as long as the head), very broad and 

 much depressed for the terminal half, the edges nearly parallel or slightly divergent termi- 

 nally ; lower edge of the maxilla strongly convex, concealing all of the mandible except the 

 basal portion. Colors chiefly black and white (the head, neck, and chest black, lower parts 

 white) in the adult male; the black replaced by brownish in the female. 



The North American species, all of which occur in Illinois, 

 may be distinguished as follows: 



A. Speculum white, tipped with black. 



1. A. marila nearctica. Flanks usually immaculate white; length 18.0020, oulmen. 

 1.85-2.20; black of head glossed with green. 



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