

CANVASBACK {Marila valisneria). This 

 species ranges over the whole of North Amer- 

 ica, but is quite rare on the Atlantic coast 

 north of Long Island. They breed in the 

 interior and northwestern United States and 

 Canada, making their nests on the ground on 

 the edges of sloughs or marshes, or some- 

 times even piling up rushes in shallow water 

 to form a foundation. They formerly win- 

 tered very abundantly in the Chesapeake 

 and North Carolina waters, but have been 

 hunted so relentlessly that only fewer and 

 smaller flocks now visit there. 



After feeding for several weeks on wild 

 rice, wild celery and the tender shoots of val- 

 isneria, Canvasbacks become the most 

 toothsome of ducks, although Redheads ap- 

 proach them very closely. 



This and the last species differ in the fol- 

 lowing respects, as may be seen by referring 

 to their respective pictures. The bill of the 

 Canvasback is black and high at the base, 

 while that of the Redhead is bluish, with a 

 black nail, and is ordinary duck shape. The 

 iris of this species is red, that of the last is 

 yellow. The back of the Canvasback is 

 very much lighter and more finely barred 

 than that of Redhead. The females resem- 

 ble each other closely, but can always be 

 placed on account of the differently shaped 

 bills. Both are quite wary, but come to and 

 are shot over decoys. Their flight is perhaps the swiftest of that of any of 

 the large ducks. They are one of the deep-diving ducks, a subfamily 

 characterized by having a flap on the hind toe, although how this can 

 prove of any assistance to them is difficult to understand. 



SCAUP DUCK (Marila marila). This is the larger of the two species 

 that are very commonly known as "Bluebills" and "Blackheads," and less 

 often as "Broadbills" and "Raft Ducks." This species measures 19 

 inches in length, while the next is about 17, and the head is glossed with 

 greenish, while that of the Lesser Scaup has purplish reflections. This spe- 

 cies breeds in interior Canada and winters throughout the United States. 



CANVASBACK ( $ , & ) 

 SCAUP DUCK (3,9) 



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