i62 WATER FOWL. 



of its small relative, with a prefix denoting bigness; thus, 

 in addition to those already given, it is called Big Black 

 Head, Big Scaup, Big Shuffler, Big Broad Bill; also Salt- 

 Water Broad Bill (indicating its preference for the sea- 

 coasts), Bay Broad Bill, Gray Back, Black Neck, Dos 

 Gris in Louisiana, and various others, some of which are 

 purely local, and rarely heard. As a bird for the table 

 it is about on a par with, the Little Scaup Duck, and, 

 when it has fed upon wild celery and other tender 

 grasses, its flesh is well-flavored, but if away from locali- 

 ties where these grasses are found, it is not very particu- 

 lar upon the quality of its diet, and often has a fishy and 

 rank flavor, not in any way desirable, I do not regard 

 it as common a species as many of the diving Ducks found 

 within our borders, and the days when I have met with 

 them, even in comparatively large numbers, have been 

 exceptional. For a long period its distinctness from the 

 Small Broad Bill was unknown, and for some time after 

 it was suggested that there were two species, both orni- 

 thologists and sportsmen were skeptical of the fact. 



FULIGULA M ARIL A. 



Geographical Distribution. — North America generally, south 

 to Guatemala. Also in Northern portion of Old World to China. 

 Breeds in Alaska, and in the Arctic regions east of the mountains. 



Adult Male. — Head, neck, fore parts of back and chest, black, 

 with green reflections on head and neck. Lower back, rump, 

 upper and under tail coverts, also black. Middle of back, scapu- 

 lars, sides, flanks, and anal region, white, undulated with fine 

 black lines. Wing coverts, blackish, finely barred with white. 

 Speculum, white, bounded in front by a black line formed b}^ the 

 tips of the greater coverts. Tertials, black, glossed with green; 

 some of the large ones vermiculated with white. Primaries, 

 dark brown, with black tips, and a grayish or whitish area on 

 inner webs. Tail, blackish brown. Belly, white. Bill, bluish 



