114 RED-HEADED DUCK. 



eighths of an inch thick at the base, furnished with a large broad nail at 

 the extremity ; irides flame-colored ; plumage of the head long, velvety, 

 and inflated, running high above the base of the bill ; head, and about 

 two inches of the neck deep glossy reddish chestnut ; rest of the neck 

 and upper part of the breast black, spreading round to the back ; belly 

 white, becoming dusky toAvards the vent by closely marked undulating 

 lines of black ; back and scapulars bluish white, rendered gray by 

 numerous transverse waving lines of black ; lesser wing coverts brownish 

 ash ; wing quills very pale slate, dusky at the tips ; lower part of the 

 back and sides under the wings brownish black, crossed with regular 

 zigzag lines of whitish ; vent, rump, tail, and tail coverts black ; legs 

 and feet dark ash. 



The female has the upper part of the head dusky brown, rest of the 

 head and part of the neck a light sooty brown ; upper part of the breast 

 ashy brown, broadly skirted with whitish ; back dark ash, with little or 

 no appearance of white pencilling ; wings, bill, and feet nearly alike in 

 both sexes. 



This Duck is sometimes met with in the rivers of North and South 

 Carolina, and also in those of Jersey and New York ; but always in 

 fresh water, and usually at no great distance from the sea. Is most 

 numerous in the waters of the Chesapeake ; and with the connoisseurs 

 in good eating, ranks next in excellence to the Canvas-back. Its usual 

 weight is about a pound and three-quarters, avoirdupois. 



The Red-head leaves the bay and its tributary streams in March, and 

 is not seen until late in October. 



The male of this species has a large flat bony labyrinth on the bottom 

 of the windpipe, very much like that of the Canvas-back, but smaller ; 

 over one of its concave sides is spread an exceeding thin transparent 

 skin, or membrane. The intestines are of great width, and measure 

 six feet in length. 



