GREATER BLACK-HEAD. §7 



Adult femak. General markings as in tlie male, but with a white patch around eye. and lacks, in a great measure, 

 the bright colors acd iridescence which are replaced or obsimred with ashy and brownish. Young. Similar to adult fe- 

 male but the breast is streaked with wliitLsh. The males, however, are brighter than the females. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known in all stages by the iridescent colors of wings as described. Distributed, in summer, throughout Temperate 

 North America; wintering in the South. 



DBIENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 18-00; stretch, 29-00; wing, 900; tail, 4-1-2; bill, 

 1-3.5; tarsus, 1-30. Longestspecinien, 19-00; greatest extent of wing, 29-75; longest wing, 9-fiO; tail. 4-25; bill, 1-50; taisus, 

 1-40. Shortest specimen, 17-00; smallest extent of wing, 28-00; shortest wing, 8-45; tail, 4-00; bill, 1"25; tarsus, 1-20 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 A'es/s. placed in holes of trees, composed of grass, weeds, feathers, etc. Egrjs, sis to ten in number, ellii)ti<-al in 

 form, and pale brown in color. Dimensions from l-05x 1-55 to 1-15x1-65. 



HABITS. 

 The beautiful Wood Ducks are among the best known of all the species which resort 

 to our inland waters, for they are abundant in summer and breed from Maine to Florida, 

 and it is a singular fact, that the eggs are deposited in the latter named State in May and 

 June, nearly or quite as late as they are laid further north. The Wood Ducks almost in- 

 Aariably select a hole in a tree or stub in which to build, often .some distance from the wa- 

 ter and occasionally at a considerable height from the ground, and when a pair of these 

 birds have selected a particular tree, they -nnll return to it year after year. Mr. Will Per- 

 ham called my attention to a section of a hollow log which he had fastened in the fork of 

 a huge pine that stands near Tyng Pond, which he said was the nesting place of a certain 

 pair of these Ducks, and also stated that they had used it for several years. As the young 

 do not remain in the nest long after being hatched, they must be removed by the parents 

 and carried to the water. These elegant birds are easily tamed, and even when in a state 

 of nature, -'vill readily associate with domesticated fowls, feeding with them through the 

 entire summer. In autumn, the Wood Ducks often visit the woods in search of chestnuts 

 and acorns. They migrate southward during October but occur in Florida all winter. 



GENUS XI. FULIGULA. THE BAY DUCKS. 



Gex. Cn. But, longer than head, quite wide, somewhat flattened, and not expanded at tip. Marginal indentations, 

 open. 



The trachea is straight and without any special dilatation. The larynx in males is expanded and provided with a bony 

 frame-work. Stomach, muscular. Sexes, not similar. There are live species within our limits. 



rULIGULA MARILA. 



Greater Black-head. 



Fuligula tnarila Stepii., Shaw's Zool. XII; )824, 197. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Color. Adultmak. Head, neck all around, upper parts, breast, sides, flnnk^, 



and under tail coverts, black, glossed with green and violet on head, becoming slightly browni-ih around middle of neck, 



finely banded with white across back. Remainder of under part=, white, faintly banded with hLick on abdomen. Black 



feathers of breast, .slightly tipped with white, and those on shouldeis are faintly spotted with it. Speculum, white. Bill, 



blue, with nail and feet, black. Iris, orange. Adult female. Similar, but the black is replaced by brown, and the barrings 



above are faintly indicated. The sides are brown and there is a whitish .space around base of bill. Young. Resemble the 



adult female but are more reddish above. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known from the following species by the large size and decidedly greenish gloss to bend; and from nil others, by the 

 broad blue hill and white speculum. Distributed in summer throughout Northern America; wintering from Mna«inoliu- 

 setts to the Carolinas. 



