BLACK-BELLIED TREE-DUCK 251 



The desk of tlic Fulvous Tree-duck is light-colored and juicy, and 

 also free from the rank flavor possessed by sea-faring ducks and geese. 

 On their arrival in California the birds are fat and eminently fit 

 for the table ; but since they are here in greatest numbers during the 

 close season, they largely escape the slaughter levied on other wild 

 fowl. The numbers of this species are, at best, small in comparison with 

 many other ducks and geese. They could ill afford a heavy toll by the 

 hunter during the period of their stay here. Any levy upon them dur- 

 ing the actual breeding season would be contrary to all recognized 

 principles of game conservation and humanity. As it is, but a few 

 Tree-ducks are to be shot each year at the opening of the season, 

 October 15. Those who are anxious to hunt the Fulvous Tree-duck 

 in numbers must go to Mexico where the birds are to be found regu- 

 larly in winter and where a certain toll may be levied with safety. 



There is a possibility that, instead of having to point to a decrease 

 in the numbers of Fulvous Tree-ducks in California, we shall actually 

 be able to record an increase. Barnhart (1901, p. 67) has pointed out 

 that it is only of recent years that young Tree-ducks have been noted 

 in the vicinity of Los Baiios, Merced County; in other words, since 

 the extensive system of irrigation has been established there. Since 

 that time they have continually increased in numbers in that vicinity. 

 Mr. H. Wanzer, chief engineer for the Miller and Lux Company, first 

 noted this duck thei-e in June, 1895. It did not appear to increase 

 notably in numbers until 1898, but since that time it has increased 

 with rapidity, so that the birds are now common summer residents 

 in the irrigated districts around Los Bailos. 



Black-bellied Tree-duck 



Dcndrocijgna autuninalis (Linnaeus) 



Other xame — Long-legged Duck. 



Description — Adults, both sexes: Structurally like Fulvous Tree-duck; top 

 of head, neck, back, scapulars, and breast, bright cinnamon brown; forehead 

 paler, and top of head darker, passing behind into black, which is continued 

 as a narrow stripe down hind neck; narrow eye-ring ashy white; head and 

 neck otherwise, pale ashy brown; iris "brown"; bill "coral-red, orange 

 above," nail "bluish" (Merrill, 1878, p. 170); rump, upper tail coverts and 

 tail black; outer surface of closed wing pale brown on lesser coverts paling 

 to ashy white on greater coverts and secondaries; ends of primaries and 

 secondaries deep black; basal parts of primaries and secondaries white, con- 

 tinuous with the white on greater coverts; an additional whitish patch on 

 outer webs of primaries near ends; axillars and under surface of wing black; 

 belly and flanks, black, abruptly and squarely defined against cinnamon of 

 breast; .under tail coverts white, spotted toward bases wdth black; legs and 

 feet "pinkish-white" (Merrill, loc. cit.). Total length (both sexes): "19.75- 

 24.00" inches (502-609 mm.) (Eidgway, 1900, p. 119); folded wing "9.20- 



