NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



positive black crescent-shaped marks. The head is white, often with a 

 yellowish tinge ; the throat black speckled with white, and the tail is also 

 white; feet flesh-color. Dr. Coues says the eggs of this species are about 

 five in number; size 3.35 by 2.00; white, with fine pale brown dotting, 

 giving a general pale dirty-brown color. Hub. coast ana islands of Alaska 



599. Black-bellied Tree Duck — dendrocycna autumnalis. The Au- 

 tumnal* Tree Duck is a species of variegated plumage and long legs in- 

 habiting the southwestern border of the United States and southward to 

 Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America. Along the Rio Grande 

 in Mexico and Texas it is abundant from April to October and later. Dr. 

 J. C. Merrill, in "Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas," says: 

 " This large and handsome bird arrives from the South in April, and is 

 soon found in abundance on the river banks and lagoons. Migrating at 

 night it continually utters a peculiar chattering whistle, which at once indi- 

 cates its presence. Called by the Mexicans patos maical, or Corn-field 

 Duck, from its habit of frequenting those localities. It is by no means 

 shy, and large numbers are offered for sale in the Brownsville market. 

 Easily domesticated, it becomes very tame, roosting at night in trees with 

 chickens and turkeys. When the females begin to lay, the males leave 

 them and gather in large flocks on sand-bars in the river. My knowledge 

 of the breeding habits is derived from Dr. S. M. Finley, U. S. A., who 

 had ample opportunity of observing these birds at Hidalgo. The eggs 

 are deposited in hollow trees and branches, often at a considerable distance 

 from water (two miles), and from eight to thirty feet or more from the 

 ground. The eggs are placed on the bare wood, and are from twelve to 

 sixteen in number. Two broods are raised, and the parent carries the 

 young to the water in her bill. Twelve eggs received from Dr. Finley 

 average 2.11 by 1.53, with but little variation in size: they are of the 

 usual duck shape, and in color are a rather clear yellowish-white. The 

 birds leave in September, but a few late broods are seen as late as Novem- 

 ber. The soft parts in a full-plumaged living male were as follows: iris, 

 brown; bill, coral-red, orange above; nail of bill, bluish; legs and feet, 

 pinkish-white." 



600. Fulvous Tree Duck — dendrocycna fulva. The breeding habits 

 and the eggs of this species are similar to those of the last, D. auUminalis, 

 and like it, is common on the Rio Grande. In a fresh specimen the bill is 

 bluish-black, legs and feet slatey-blue. 



Hab. Southern border of the United States (Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, California) and southward. 



601. Mallard — anas boscas. Pale, dirty, yellowish-drab to olivaceous- 



