BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK. 93 



in the lagoons or other secluded waters, surrounded with 

 woods or water plants, or sitting on the branches of trees, 

 feeding and moving about mainly at night. It can be 

 easily domesticated if taken young and is very w^atchful 

 and will utter its shrill whistle at any unusual sound, or 

 at the approach of any person on the premises. In some 

 parts of Northern South America it is known as Oui- 

 ki-ki, from its peculiar whistle, which is supposed to 

 resemble those syllables, but in Mexico Pc-chc-chc-ne, for 

 the same reason. Evidently it has a separate whistle 

 for each country, or the idea of sound possessed by the 

 people must be very different. A single specimen was 

 procured by Xantus at Fort Tejon, Southern California, 

 and this is the sole evidence of its presence in that State. 

 Its dispersion seems to be mainly in the countries border- 

 ing on the Gulf of Mexico, from Texas, through Central 

 America, and so on through the northern parts of South 

 America, extending its range eastward to the West In- 

 dian Islands. It is a very pretty, gentle species, and the 

 flesh, wdiich is white and tender, is most excellent, indeed 

 considered quite a delicacy. This Duck is by no means 

 shy, and when domesticated keeps with the barnyard fowl, 

 both day and night. It is a handsome bird, although its 

 long legs deprive it of all attempts at a graceful carriage. 



DENDRO C YGNA A UTUMNA LIS. 



Geographical Distribution.— ^onthwesievn States nearest to 

 Mexico, and southward through Mexico, Central America, and 

 northern South America; east to the West Indies. 



Adult Malt'.— Yoveh.ea.6., pale yellowish brown ; top of head, 

 cinnamon; nape and line down back of neck, black. Sides of 

 head and upper part of neck, ash gray. Chin and throat, gray- 

 ish white. Rest of neck, upper portion of breast, back, and 

 scapulars, cinnamon brown. Middle of back, rump, and upper 

 tail coverts, black. Lesser wing coverts, olive ochraceous ; 



