70 



North American Birds Eggs. 



f^ 



rnited 

 wintering 

 the West 



[Pal 



132. Mallard. Anus hosrhax. 

 Range. — Northern Hemisphere, breeding in Aniericn frmn nortiiern 



States northward, am 

 south to Tanama anc 

 Indies. 



Contrasting with the preceding 

 Fish Ducks, the MaHards are re- 

 garded as one of Ihe most esteemed 

 table birds. They feed on mol- 

 ^^^^ lusks and marine insects which they 



^Hp generally reach by tipping in shal- 



^^^ low water. They nest in many 



h)calities in the Unitetl States but 

 nn)re abundantly north of our 

 borders. They nest in fields in 

 close proximity to ponds or lakes, 

 placing their nests of grasses and 

 .,, ,,,j|, feathers in the tall grass. In May 



and June they lay from six to ten 

 eggs of a buffy or olive green color. Size ^.:^5 x 1.25. Data. — San Diego, 

 California, ]May lU, 18117. Nest made of grass, lined with down, placed on the 

 edge of a held near a pond. 



133. Black Duck. Auas obsrura. 



Range. — Eastern North America, breeding from the middle portions north to 

 the Hudson Bay territory and Labrador. 



Throughout their b r ee d i n g 

 region, one or more pairs of these 

 ducks nest in nearly every favor- 

 able locality, Their nests are 

 placed on the ground in marshes, 

 swamps or fields bordering a 

 pond or lake, the nest being con- 

 cealed in the long grass or 

 reeds. They breed in equal 

 ai)undance, either in the interior 

 or along the sea coast; in the 

 latter case their nests are often 

 placed beside of, or under an 

 overhanging rock. It is made of 

 weeds, grass and moss and is 

 lined with feathers and down. 

 They lay from six to twelve eggs 

 during May and June: these are 

 iiuff or greenish buff in color. Size 2.80 x 1.' 

 June ;>, 1893, Nest of grasses, concealed in 

 Collector, C. K. Reed. 



133a. Red-legged Black Duck. Anas nbscura rubripcs. 



This new suli-species has but recently been separated from the preceding. 

 Their range is more northerly tiian the common Black Duck. The birds are 

 larger and are especially distinguished by the red legs whereas the common^ 

 species has legs of a greenish brown color. 



The habits, nesting hal)its and eggs will not vary from those of the common 

 species. The plumage of the male birti, like that of the preceding, does not 

 differ from that of the female, both being similar but darker than the female 

 Mallard. 



I'al 



O. 



reeiiish buff. J 



Data. — Duck Is., Maine, 

 arge tuft on water's edge. 



