DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 125 



1. SMEW, M. ALBKi.Lus. 16.50; bill, 1.00; white patch 

 in front of eye, back, and two crescent-shaped bars on side of 

 breast, black, fig. 140. Female, top of head, brown, rest of 

 head and beneath, white ; back, ashy-brown. Northern Eu- 

 rope and Asia; accidental in eastern N. A. 



B. RIVEK DUCKS. Anatidae. 



Bill, widened, flattened and moreor less expanded at tip^ 

 fig. 143; legs rather short but the birds walk well and often 

 feed on land; terminal portion of inner secondaries, irides- 

 cent, forming a shining surface, the speculum. 



a. Fresli-water I>ucks. Anas. 



Large-sized ducks with the bill but little expanded at 

 tip. Do not dive for their food but feed by reaching down in 

 shallow water, sometimes tipping the body forward. Nests 

 placed on the ground, eggs, 6 to 12, greenish. Flight, swift 

 and direct with rapid wing-beats. Note of males a low, soft- 

 ly given "^««cy^" often repeated; of females a lower "^«ac^'* 

 more harshly given. 



1. MALLARD, A. BOSCHAS. 24.00; bill, 2.25 ; head and 

 upper neck, green; lower neck in front and breast, chestnut; 

 lower neck and back, reddish-brown finely banded with white 

 but darker behind and quite black on the upper tail coverts 

 the tips of which are upturned; beneath, back of breast, 

 creamy-white; wings, marked with reddish-brown, white and 

 chestnut; speculum, dark-blue glossed with violet, surround- 

 ed by a black border which is margined before and behind 

 with a white band ; bill, greenish ; feet, orange, fig. 141. Fe- 

 male, and young, dark-brown banded and spotted with yel- 

 lowish-red which predominates below; speculum, as in male. 

 Northern parts of northern hemisphere; in N. A. breeding 

 south to southern IJ. S. ; most common in north-eastern U. S. 

 during migrations, in April, Sept. and Oct. ; a few remain all 

 winter as far north as Mass. but the greater portion pass the 

 winter in the southern states. Breeds in May. In starting 

 from the water, rises obliquely. More common on fresh than 



