ANATIDM — ANATIN.E: RIVER DUCKS. 915 



A, obscu'ra. (Lat. obscura, dark.) Dusky Duck. Black Duck. Black Mallard 

 ((? 9)- Size of the Mallard, and resembling 9 of that species, but darker and without white 

 anywhere except on lining of wings, and a narrow white line along border of speculum of ^. 

 Sexes alike. Bill yellowish-green, with dusky nail but no distinct black spot on side of upper 

 mandible at its base (compur e fulvigula). Feet orange-red, with dusky webs. Iris browu. 

 General plumage dusky-brown, paler below than above, variegated with pale rusty-brown 

 edgings of the feathers ; top of head darker than its sides and throat, the former blackish with 

 pale brown streaking in fine pattern, the latter grayish-brown with dai'k streaking, not plain 

 buff as in fulvigida. Wing-coverts dusky-gray, the lesser ones not plain, but varied with 

 lighter edgings, as are also the inner secondaries ; the greater tipped with black, edging the 

 purplish-blue or violet speculum. The general blackish color, contrasting with white lining 

 of wings, and the violet speculum framed in velvety- black, are diagnostic. 9 boscas is raucli 

 lighter in tone, more variegated with tawny-brown, and has black-and-white frame of the 

 " beauty-spot ; " J" 9 fulvigida have plain buff throat, and basal black spot on bill. Chiefly 

 Eastern North America; W. only to the Mississippi Valley at large, as far as known (Kansas, 

 Iowa, etc.). Abundant along the Atlantic coast to Labrador. One of the commonest Ducks 

 in summer in New England and northeastward. Nest on ground, of weeds, grass, and feath- 

 ers; eggs 8-12, dirty pale yellowish-drab or other dingy color, about 2.40 X 1-75. One of the 

 best table Ducks. 



A. fulvi'gula. (Lai. fidrus, reddish; gula, throat.) Florida Dusky Duck. Similar to 

 A. obscura ; lighter-colored, the buft' or oehrej' markings prevailing over the dusky ones and 

 giving the general tone ; cheeks, chin, and throat plain pale bufl"; bill olive, with black nail 

 and spot at base of commissure. Eggs 2.15 X 1.60, dull buff. Resident in Florida. The 

 species is now restricted, on paper at least, to Florida, its formerly given range thence to Texas 

 and Kansas being now assigned to the following subspecies. A. obscura var. fulvigida 

 RiGDW. Am. Nat. Feb. 1874, p. Ill ; Coues, Key, 2d-4th eds. 1884-90, p. 692 ; A. fulvigida 

 RiDGW. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. Aug. 1880, p. 203, and Man. 1887, p. 92; A. O. U. Lists, 1st 

 and 2d eds. 1886-95, No. 184. 



A, f. macuio'sa. (Lat. spotted, full of macidce, spots.) Texas Dusky Duck. Mottled 

 Duck. Adult ^ : Top of head blackish-brown, the feathers edged with pale buS'; chin and 

 throat Isabella color ; cheeks bufFy-white with narrow dark-brown streaks ; upper parts, 

 wings, breast, and flanks blackish-brown, the feathers margined with pale white ; under parts 

 huffy white, each feather with a broad blackish -brown spot near the tip ; under tail-coverts 

 blackish, varied with whitish and reddish buff; 4 middle tail-feathers blackish-brown, the 

 others fuscous edged with pale buff, having a V-shaf)ed mark as in A. fulvigida ; lining of wing 

 white ; speculum purple with white border; feet reddish-orange ; a small black basal sjiot on 

 lower edge of upper mandible, lacking in the 9 I sexes otherwise alike. Eastern Texas to 

 Kansas. A. maculosa Sennett, Auk, July, 1889, p. 263; A. obscura maculosa Coues, Key, 

 4th ed. 1890, p. 905 ; A. fidvigula maculosa A. 0. U. List, 2d ed. 1895, No. 134a. 

 CHAULKLAS'MUS. (Gr. x^avKios, chaidios, protuberant (only classic in x^vXioSovs, chaulio- 

 duiis, having ])r()trusive teeth, or, of teeth protrusive, tusky, like those of tlie Crocodile) ; 

 fXaanos, ehtsmos, a layer, plate ; referring to teeth of bill.) Gadwalls. Bill about as lung 

 as head, rather exceeding tarsus, but shorter than middle toe alone, the sides parallel to 

 rounded tip ; lamellae not concealed ; nostrils high up near the base ; re-entrance between 

 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. Tail short, rounded or cuneate, 

 witli 10 pointed feathers. (^ with most of tlie ])lumage barred or half-ringed with black 

 and white, or whitish ; middle wing-coverts chestnut, greater coverts black, .tjyeculum ichite ; 

 9 with similar white speculum. Feet yellowish. Tlic genus is very near Anas jiroper, 

 chiefly differing in tlie fineness and great number (about 50) of the laniflljc of tiie bill, 



