29G 



KEY AND DESCRIPTIOy 



lower parts mottled buffs and browns. The species can be 

 readily separated from all others (except the next, which is 

 very rare), by the peculiar tail feathers almost exposed to 

 their bases. This is a good diver and often escapes pursuit by 

 diving backwards and swimming under water to some secure 

 place where it can hide. In flying, its rounded form and rapid 

 wing movements enable one to distinguish it from other ducks. 

 In rising from the water it makes use of its feet, running, as 

 it were, on the surface of the water for some distance, before 

 it is able to sustain itself in the air. If there is not room for 

 this surface running, it will dive and hide rather than attempt 

 flight. In swimming, it frequently holds its tail erect, and 

 this attitude gives it a peculiar appearance. 



LengUi, 15 ; wing, 5J (5J^-6); tail, 3J ; tarsus, IJ ; culmcn, \\. North 

 Aineiica south to northern South America ; breedinp; mainly north of the 



United States, but lo- 

 cally even south to Cen- 

 tral America. 



28. Masked Duck 

 (108. yum onyx 

 d o m i n i ctt s). — A ' 

 small, tropical, stiff- 

 tailed duck which 

 has accidentally 

 drifted into the 

 United States a few 

 times. It is a chest- 

 nut-red duck, with 

 black on the crown and back, and white on the wings at the 

 coverts. The female is a mottled, dusky, yellowish-brown and 

 rusty duck. Avith two blackish stripes on each side of the head. 

 The inner secondaries are so lengthened as to fold over the 

 primaries in the cloud wing. 



Length, i:^ ; wing, 5J ; tail, 3J ; tarsus, 1; culmen. If. Tropical 

 America north to the Gulf coast of Texas and accidental in Wisconsin, 

 New York, and Massachusetts. 



Masked Dnck 



