DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 49 



134a. Anas fulvigula maculosa {Senn.). Mottled Duck. 



Sexes similar, resembling- a dark-colored female mallard. Head and 

 neck buff J', finely streaked with dusky ; under parts mottled about equally 

 with dusky and light brown ; feathers of breast and back with brown cen- 

 ters and margins ; spseulum of wing- g-reenish purple framed in black, the 

 feathers tipped with white. Wing : 10.05, bill 2.25. 



Distribution. — From Central Mexico north to Kansas and Colorado. 



Eggs. — Pale huffy. 



The habits of the mottled duck are similar to those of the mal- 

 lard. 



GENUS CHAULELASMUS. 



135. Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.). Gadwall. 



Tail feathers 10. Adult male : top of head with wide low crest ; head 

 and body gray, crossed with wavy lines of black and white ; rump and 

 upper and lower tail coverts black ; wing- marked with black, white, and 

 bright brown ; belly white. Post-breeding plumage : duller and more spotted 

 below. Adult female : head without crest ; head and neck finely specked 

 with dusky on a buffy or w hitish ground ; cliin and belly white ; rest of 

 body with feathers duskv, bordered with buff. Male : length 19.2.5-21.75, 

 wing 10.2.5-11.00, bill r.60-L75. Female: length 18, wing 10.00-10.25, 

 bill 1.5.5-1.65. 



Remarks. — The female resembles the female mallard, but may be distin- 

 guished by white chin and belly, gray under surface of wing, and white 

 instead of green speculum. 



Distribution. — Northern hemisphere, including the whole of North 

 America. 



Nest, — Like that of the mallard. Eggs : 8 to 12, pale buffy or creamy 

 white. 



In habits the ijadwall is much like the mallard, being a bird of the 

 ponds and marshes and breeding more or less commonly over much 

 of North America, especially on the ])h\iiis and prairies. 



GENUS MARECA. 



General Characters. — Tail feathers 14; male with short crest, adult male 

 with white crown ; bill small, widest near base. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Sides of liead and neck rich russet brown (specked with dnsky in im- 

 mature) (male) peuelope, p. 40. 



1'. Sides of head and neck thickly specked with dusky on liglit buff or 

 whitish ground. 

 2. ('rest and sides of crown metallic green . (iiiali') americana, p. 50. 

 2. Wlioli' head and neck streaked and specked. 

 3. Head and neck streaked on whitish ground. 



(female) americana. j). .50. 

 o .Head and neck streaked on l)uff ground. 



(female) penelope. j). 40. 



136. Mareca penelope (Linn.). Winr.ioN. 



Adult malr.— Dill blue with bbick tij); crown white or creamy; rest of 

 head and neck rich lusset brown, more or less specked with black ; chest 



