30. MAEECA. 235 



B., B., Sf H. Water-Birds N. Am. i. p. 520 (1884) ; Cozies, Key 

 N. Am. B. 2nd ed. p. 094 (1884) ; Yarrell, Hist. Br. B. {Sound, 

 ed.) iv. p. 403 (1884-85) ; Nchrl. J.f. 0. 1885, p. 146 (Illinois) ; 

 Matsch. Hf Ziemer, ibid. p. 191 ; Stejn. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 29, 

 p. 158 (Berino- Isl.) (1885) ; Cory, 'List Birds W. Ind. p. 31 (1885) ; 

 Stejn. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 29, p. 158 (Bering 1.) (1885) ; id. 

 Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 136 (Bering I.) (1887) ; Cory, Aul;, 1888, 

 p. 63 (W. Indies) ; id. B. W. Ind. p. 264 (1889) ; Trisfr. Cat. Coll. 

 B. p. 50 (1889^ ; Saunders, Jlan. Brit. B. p. 427 (1889) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. Osteol. Specim. R. Coll. Surf/, iii. p. 303 (1891). 



Anas (Boschas) americana, Nidt. JVhm. ii. p. 389 (1834). 



Marica americana, Sw. Class. B. ii. p. 366 (1837). 



Cliaulelasmusamericanus,Z/c"/;^.^'o?«e?ic/. Av. p. 102(Mexico)(1854). 



Mareca peuelope, j3. americana, Bias. List B. Eur. p. 21 (1862). 



Anas (Mareca) americana, Rchmo. Orn. Centralbl. 1882, p. 20. 



Adult male. Forehead and top of the head whitish, almost 

 immaculate ; sides of the head and neck dull whitish, speckled with 

 black ; behind the eyes a dark patch, thickly speckled with metallic 

 green ; mantle, scapulars, back, and median upper tail-coverts grej-, 

 more or less tinted with reddish, finely undulated with black ; rump 

 almost black ; outer and longer upper tail-feathers black ; upper 

 breast and sides reddish vinaceous, the latter undulated with black ; 

 lower breast and abdomen white ; under tail-coverts velvety black ; 

 upper wing-coverts white, but those near the bend of the wing dark 

 grey ; primaries and primary-coverts dusky, the former with the 

 inner web paler ; secondaries black, some of the inner ones glossed 

 with green, forming a black and green speculum ; the longest upper 

 wing-coverts are broadly tipped with black ; outer tertial whitish 

 grey on the outer web, the inner ones very long, acuminate, dusky 

 grey on the inner web, velvety black, edged with white on the outer 

 web ; under wing-coverts grey : axillaries white ; tail dusky black : 

 " bill light greyish blue, the end black ; iris brown ; legs and feet 

 light bluish " (liidgwai/). Total length 18-21 inches, wing 10*25- 

 10-75, tail 4-5, culmeii 1-30-1-50, tarsus 1-50. 



Adult female. Very similar to the female of M. penehpe, but the 

 head and neck much whiter, the light part of the feathers being 

 whitish instead of reddish brown. 



Toiinrj male. Similar to the adult female, but the colours more 

 pronounced and the pattern better defined, especially on the wings 

 {Ridgway). 



Younr/ ill down. " Above dark olive with a sepia tinge ; a spot of 

 pale greenish fulvous on the posterior half of the wing, one on each 

 side of the back, and one on each side of the rump ; lower parts, 

 including head and neck, pale fulvous ; a distinct blackish-olive 

 stripe from the bill to and back from the eye, with a wide and 

 conspicuous superciliary stripe of fulvous above it " {Ridgu-ay). 



Hah. Xorth America, from the Arctic Ocean to Guatemala, and 

 occasionally the West Indies. 



