ANATID^—ANATIN^: RIVER DUCKS. 693 



black stripes. Tail-feathers gray, the long central ones blackish j sides and roots of tail varied 

 vdth blackish and buff. It ia thus a very handsome duck in full plumage, aside from the trim 

 and dipper-like build. Length very variable, up to 30 inches, according to development of 

 tail, which is sometimes 9 inches hmg, usually 5 or 6 ; extent 36.00; wing 11.00; bill 2.25; 

 tarsus 1.67; middle toe and claw 2.25. Adult 9 '• Smaller; lacking the development of the 

 tail ; length 24 or less. Only traces of the speculum, in green specks in a brown area between 

 white or whitish tips of the secondaries and those of the greater coverts. Bill blackish ; feet 

 dull grayish-blue ; iris brown. Whole head finely speckled, and whole neck finely streaked, 

 with dusky-brown and grayish-brown or yellowish-brown ; under parts pale ochrey-brown, 

 freckled with dusky ; upper parts variegated with brownish-black and yellowish-brown, on the 

 fore parts the lighter color in angular or rounded bars on each feather. Young drake like the 

 duck. Though the resemblance is close to some other species, observe color of bill and feet, tips of 

 secondaries and greater coverts, and size and generic characters. Northern hemisphere ; N. Am. 

 at large, wintering and migrating in U. S. and beyond, breeding from northern borders northward ; 

 more numerous in the interior than along either coast. I have found it breeding abundantly 

 in parts of N. Dakota and Montana. Nest on ground ; eggs 6-10-12, smooth, eh)ngated 

 ellipsoidal, 2.10 to 2.30 long by about 1.52 ; uniform duU grayish-olive, without any buft'tint. 



286. CHAULELAS'MUS. (Gr. xaiJ^'oy, chauUos, protuberant ; eXacrnos, elasmos, a layer, plate ; 

 referring to the teeth of the bill. ) Gadwalls. BiU about as long as head, rather exceeding 

 tarsus, the sides parallel to the rounded tip, the lamellae not concealed, the nostrils high up near 

 the base, the reentrance between the feathers. on culmen and those on side of bill short and 

 open, in advance of feathers on side of lower mandible. Wings pointed, 1st primary longest. 

 TaU short, rounded or cuneate, with pointed feathers. <J with most of the plumage barred (jr 

 half-ringed with black and white, or whitish ; middle wing-coverts chestnut, greater coverts 

 hlacl-, speculum white ; 9 with similar white speculum. Feet yellowish. 



711. C. stre'perus. (Lat. streperus, noisy, ' obstreperous.') Gadwall. Gray Duck. Adult $ : 

 Bill blue-black; feet dull orange, with dusky webs and claws ; iris reddish-brown. Head and 

 neck brownish- white, darker on crown and nape, barred and specked with dusky. Lower neck, 

 breast, sides of body and fore-back waved with crescentic bars of blackish and white, the cres- 

 centic marks giving a scaly appearance most distinct on the neck and breast, elsewhere finer, 

 more undulatory and transverse. Lower back dusky, passing to black on the rump and tail- 

 coverts. Belly white, minutely marbled with gray. Scapulars tinged with rusty brown ; longest 

 inner quills hoary gray ; lining of wings white ; lesser upper coverts gray ; middle coverts 

 chestnut-red ; speculum white, formed by part or the whole of the outer webs of the second- 

 aries, framed in velvet black of the greater coverts, terminally bordered with black and hoary 

 gray. Length about 22 inches ; extent 34.00 ; vring 10.50-11.00; tail 4.50; tarsus 1.60; bill 

 1.75; middle toe and claw 2.20. Adult 9 : Smaller than ^. Bill dusky, blotched A^dth 

 orange. Feet dingy yellowish, with dusky webs and claws. Lacking the regular crescentic 

 and wavy markings of the <? ; variegated with dusky and tawny brown, like 9 of other 

 species ; the chestnut of the ^ wanting or restricted ; but the wing-markings are sufficiently 

 distinctive. Young drake resembling the 9 . One of the most widely diffused of ducks, in 

 most parts of the world ; in N. Am. nearly throughout, but not specially arctic in the breeding 

 season, nesting anywhere in the U. S. Nest on ground, sometimes in trees; eggs creamy-buff, 

 a trifle over 2.00 by about 1.50. 



287. MARE'CA. (S. Am. mareca, Brazilian name of a kind of teal.) WiGEON. Bill shorter 

 than head, rather high and narrow at base, parallel-sided, with rounded end, the nail occupy- 

 ing the middle third ; the upper lateral reentrance short and open ; nostrils high up and near 

 base. Tail pointed, of 16 feathers, not half as long as wing. Bill and feet dark colored ; 

 belly and middle and greater wing-coverts white ; top of head white or light ; speculum green, 

 black-bordered. 



