516 



LAMELLIROSTEAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



the Porcupine Eiver, by Mr. Jones ; Fort Yukon, by Mr. J. S. Ibbiston and Mr. 

 Lockhart ; Anderson River, Fort Anderson, the Lower Anderson, Rendezvous Lake, 

 the Barren Grounds, etc., by Mr. MacFarlane ; Kadiak and Fort Kenai, by Mr. 

 Bischoff; and I^ew AYestminster, by Mr. H. W. Elliott. 



They are mentioned by Mr. Adams as the first Ducks to arrive — April 28 — in 

 Alaska (" Ibis," 1878), and the only fresh-water species there that was numerous. 

 They frequent all parts of the marshes in groups of three or four, are very wary, and 

 can only be procured by ambush in the lines of its flight. The nests were placed in 

 the rough grass of the marshes, and very carefully concealed ; the eggs, nine in 

 number, were of a pale green, almost white. 



The eggs of this species are oval in shape, and of a pale grayish -green color. 

 Three eggs in the Smithsonian Collection (Xo. 4242), from St. George's Island, in St. 

 James's Bay, measui'e 2.30 by 1.55 inches ; 2.25 by 1.55 ; 2.20 by 1.55. 



Gexus MARECA, Stephens. 



Mareca, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 130 (type, Anas penelope, Linn.). 



Char. Bill small, sliorter than the head, rather narrow, the edges parallel to near the end, 

 where they gradually converge to a rounded tip ; cuhuen gently concave ; lamellas of the maxillse 

 almost concealed ; feet small, the tarsus about as long as the bill ; sexes very different in winter, 

 much alike in summer. Adult male in winter with the scapulars and tertials (in the North 

 American species the tail-coverts and rectrices also) lanceolate. 



M. penelope. 



The three known species of Mareca (all American, but one peculiar to the southern continent) 

 may be distinguished as follows : — 



Com. Char, (adult males in winter dress). Forehead white ; posterior half of the middle wing- 

 covert regions white, forming a large patch of this color ; sides and flanks reddish ; abdomen 

 immaculate white ; speculum velvety black, Avitli or without green. 



A. Speculum metallic green anteriorly ; jugulum jjlain pinkish vinaceous ; sides, flanks, scapu- 

 lars, and back, delicately undulated with dusky upon a lighter ground ; crissum black. 

 Tail-feathers acuminate, the middle pair projecting considerably beyond the rest. 

 1. M. penelope. Head and neck plain rufous, the forehead and part of the crown white ; 



