BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK. 



*T^HIS species and the succeeding one are distributed 

 through the countries lying south of the borders of 

 the United States, and only enter a few of the South- 

 western States contiguous to Mexico. The Black-bel- 

 lied Tree Duck is not rare in certain parts of Texas in 

 summer, along the lower Rio Grande, where it arrives 

 from its more southern home in April. It is known 

 there as the Long-legged Duck, and in Louisiana as the 

 Fiddler Duck. When it flies it has the habit of uttering 

 a clear whistling note that indicates its presence, espe- 

 cially at night, when most of its migrating is accom- 

 plished. 



This species deposits its eggs in the hollows of trees, 

 often at a considerable height from the ground, and 

 the eggs, from twelve to sixteen in number, ivory 

 white tinged with green, are laid upon the bare wood. 

 The males leave the females when incubation com- 

 mences and gather by themselves on the river, frequent- 

 ing the sandbars, where they often congregate in large 

 numbers. When the young appear they are carried to 

 the water by the mother, in her bill. In the various 

 countries lying to the south of our borders this Duck 

 visits the grain-fields at night, especially the corn-fields, 

 and commits considerable damage. It also frequents 

 the swamps, and feeds on the seeds of certain aquatic 

 plants, of which it is very fond. It perches easily on 

 trees or on cornstalks, and its long legs enable it to walk 

 and run with great ease and rapidity. It passes the day 



9? 



