CANVASS-BACKED DUCK. 



(FuUgula Talisneria, Stephexs. Bonap. Synops. No. 338. Rich. 

 and Swain, ii. p. 451. ^jias valisneria, Wilson, viii. p. 103. pi. 

 70. fig. 5. Genus FuUgula, Ray. Phil. Museum. JSo. 2816.) 



p. Charact. — Speculum grey ; bill straight, nearly 2^ inches 

 long, its sides parallel. — Male white, waved with black; the head 

 tinged with black anteriorly, and with the neck glossy chestnut : 

 a black pectoral belt. Female dull whitish, waved with black ; 

 head, neck and breast brownish. 



The Canvass-Back, so well known as a delicacy of the 

 table, is a species peculiar to the continent of America. It 

 breeds, according to Richardson, in all parts of the remote 

 fur countries from the 50th parallel to their most northern 

 limits, and at this period associates much on the water with 

 the ordinary tribe of Ducks. After the close of the period 

 of reproduction, accumulating in flocks, and driven to the 

 open waters of the south for their favorite means of sub^ 



