99 



L.-UIELLIROSTKAL SWIMMERS - ANSERES. 



Fulix affinis. 



THE LESSER SCAUP DUCK; LITTLE BLACK-HEAD, OR BLUE-BILL. 



Fidigida viarila, Arn. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, 22G ; Y. 1839, 614, pi. 229 ; Syuop. 1839, 286 ; 1). Am. 



VI. 1843, 316, pi. 397. 

 Fuligula affinis, Eyton, Mon. Anat. 1838, 157. — CouES, Key, 1872, 289; Check Li.st, 1873, no. 



501 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 721 ; B. N. W. 1874, 573. 

 Fulix affinis, Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 791 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 589. — Ridgw. Nom. N. 



Am. B. 1881, no. 615. 

 Fidigida mariloides, VlG. Zool. Blossom, 1839, 31. 

 Fuligula minor, Bell, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. I. 1842, 141. — Giraud, B. Long. I. 1844, 323. 



IIar. Tlie whole of North America, .south to Guatemala and the West Indies ; breeds chiefly 



north of the United States. 



Sp. Char. Entirely similar to F. marila, but smaller. Total length, about 16.00 inches ; 



extent, 25.00-30.00; wing, 7.(;0-8.2.'3 ; culmen, 1.58-1.90 ; width of bill near end, .80-95, at base, 



.60-.80 ; tarsus, 1.15-1.50; middle toe, 2.00-2.25. 

 Beyond the decidedly smaller size, we can per- 

 ceive no difference between this bird and F. marila 

 which seems to be constant. In most of the speci- 

 mens before us, however, the green gloss of the 

 head is much less distinct, in fact wanting entirely, 

 or in many replaced by faint purplish ; while the 

 lower part of the neck is usually dull brownish 

 and quite lustreless, in many examples forming 

 quite as distinct a collar as in some specimens of F. 

 collaris, though the color is never so rufescent as 

 in the latter species. The zigzag markings on the 

 back and scapular appear to be, as a rule, somewhat 

 coarser than in F. marila. As in the larger spe- 

 cies, the sides and flaidvs may be either marked 

 with dusky, or quite immaculate. 



A larger series of specimens may prove the 

 intergradation of this form with F. marila. 



Male (reduced). 



A full and complete history of this species cannot be given, in consequence of the 

 confusion that has existed between it and the better-known Fulix marila, which, in 

 appearance, and probably in habits, it so closely resembles. So far as my ow-n obser- 

 vations go, I am inclined to agree with Dr. Cooper in regarding this species as a much 

 more decided frequenter of the land than is the larger Black-head ; and it is quite 

 probable that much that has been written by Audubon and others in regard to the 

 Scaup Duck, as seen on our rivers and lakes, may have had reference only to this 

 species. In April, 1872, the markets of Detroit were abundantly and almost exclu- 

 sively supplied with this Duck, brought from the marshes of Lake St. Clair ; and 

 both in the spring and in the fall it is abundant on Lake Koskonong, in Southern 

 Wisconsin. It is found over the whole North American continent, both on the east- 

 ern and western coasts, is common in the interior waters, reaching the farthest 

 north during its breeding-season, aiul in the winter wanders to the shores of the 

 Gulf of Mexico, to Central America, and to Mexico. Mr. Dall found it not uncommon 

 at the mouth of the Yukon liiver, and on the upper waters of that river. Mr. Ken- 

 nicott mentions it as by far the most abundant Duck, and much more numerous there 



