North American Birds EgCxS. 



71 



134. Florida Duck. A ii(i.'< l'iilri(/iilti. 



Hanjj^e. — Florida and the (tuH' coa^^t of the Mississippi. 



Tliis is a simihir, lighter colored, locally (listril)ute{l race of tlu^ forej^oing. 

 The most noticeal)le difference in plumage between this and the Black Duck is 

 the absence of marking on the chin. The habits are the same, and the eggs, 

 which are deposited in April, are similar to those of the Black Duck, but 

 smaller. Size 2.15 x !.(!(). 



134a. Mottled Duck. Aini^ { kIi-'kjiiIh mitciilosit. 



Range. — (lulf coast of Texas and up the Mississippi Valley to Kansas. 

 The habits of this bird differ in no way from the preceding ones. The six to 

 ten eggs are greenish buff in color. Size 2.15 x 1.55. 



135. Gadwall. Chaulelusmux sfrrpfriis. 



Range. — Northern H e m i s p h e r e , 

 breeding in America, chieHy in the 

 rnited States and north to Manitoba, 

 chieHy in the interior. 



South in winter to the Gulf. The 

 males of these birds may be identified 

 by the white speculum and the chest- 

 nut wing coverts. Gadwalls nest on 

 the ground among the reeds of marshes 

 or in the long grass of bordering fields; 

 they make little or no nest but line 

 the cavity with down from their 

 breasts. They lay from seven to 

 twelve eggs of a creamy buff color. 

 Size 2.10 X 1.60. Data.— Benson Co., 

 North Dakota, June 19, 1898. Eight 



eggs. Nest on the ground among rank grass on a low island in Devils Lake. 



Made of weeds lined with down. Collector, E. S. Rolfe. 



ICreaniy buff, 



> > 



--py\ 



11- 

 1 k^,^^. 



136. Widgeon. Mairrn prncJopr. 



Range. — Northern Hemisphere, 

 breeding in America, only in the 

 Aleutian Islands; rare or accidental 

 in other parts of the country. 



The European Widgeon is similar 

 in build and plumage to the follow- 

 ing species, except that the whole 

 head, with the exception of the white 

 crown, is chestnut. They build 

 their nests in the rushes, making 

 them of reeds and grass and lining 

 them with feathers. They lay from 

 six to ten light buff colored eggs. 

 Size 2.20 x 1.50. 



I Pale butf 



