LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL. 75 



shfi.r])ly separated from the \mil of tlie iieek; and the speculum is now 

 complete with its brilliant metallic purple, bordered with broad stripes 

 of velvet black. There is probably no recognizable (<clipse plumage, 

 but a complete annual molt in summer. 



Behavior.— I have never seen this species in life and find practically 

 nothing published on its habits, but there is no reason to suppose 

 that it differs materially in its behavior from the closely related 

 Florida duck. It seems to be practically resident throughout its 

 range. In Louisiana it is called canard noir d'ete, summer black duck, 

 as the northern black duck is found there only in v. inter and is called 

 canard noir dliiver. Messrs. Beyer, Allison, and Ko|)nian (1907) say, 

 of the status of Anas fnlvigula (now restricted to maculosa) in 

 Louisiana : 



A regular resident on the coast, and especially on the islands, whence its local 

 name, canard des isles. Its numbers are greatly increased during the winter, and at 

 that season it may be found on open lakes, even in the norlhorn part of the State. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — Mainly on the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, less 

 common inland, up the Mississippi valley in Louisiana, and westward 

 nearly to central Texas. South to the mouth of the Rio Grande and 

 perhaps into northern Mexico. 



Winter ra./?^f.- -Approximately the same as the breeding range. 



Casual records. — Has wandered to Colorado (near Loveland, March 

 15, 18S9, and November G, 1907); Kansas (Neosho Falls, March 

 11, 1876). 



Egg dates.— Texas: Twelve records, April 18 to August 20; six 

 records. May 3 to 16. Louisiana: Four records, April 23 to June 1. 



EUNETTA FALCATA (Georgi). 



FALCATED TEAL. 



HABITS. 



This beautiful duck is a resident of eastern Asia, breeding abun- 

 dantly in the southern half of eastern Siberia and migrating to its 

 winter home in southeastern Asia. It has occurred several times as 

 a rare straggler in Europe, but has been recorded only once in North 

 A.merican territory. Our reason for including it in our next check 

 list is that Dr. G. Dallas Ilanna has recently (1920) recorded the 

 capture of a specimen in the Pribilof Islands, as follows: 



A male of this beautiful crested teal was seciu'ed on St. George Island, April 18, 

 1917. Its gorgeous coloration was admired by all who saw it. The native hunters 

 there do not readily distinguish the several species of ducks, and this was called by 

 them " mallard," whicli name is applied to at least eight separate kinds. 



