792 THE CANVAS-BACK. 
In their family affairs the Redheads are somewhat eccentric, and also 
seem to be of rather a long-suffering disposition. Nests have been found con- 
taining as many as twenty-five or thirty eggs, which seems good evidence of 
the combined efforts of at least two females. They are also imposed upon by 
other species of ducks, which not infrequently make a foster mother of the 
obliging Redhead, to the extent of persuading her to hatch out and rear six or 
seven ducklings which are not her own. 
J. H. Bows.es. 
No. 317. 
CANVAS-BACK. 
A. O. U. No. 147. Marila vallisneria (Wils.}. 
Description.—Adu/t male: Similar to preceding species, but larger, head 
larger, bill longer, and no evident angle between bill and forehead; head and 
upper neck reddish brown without purplish gloss, blackening on crown and chin; 
the sides less heavily waved with dusky; the white bars of upperparts much wider 
than the dusky (hence entire back conspicuously lighter in tone); upper mandi- 
ble dusky at base, bluish only between nostril and black tip; iris red. Adult 
female: Similar to that of preceding species, but proportioned like male; bill cor- 
respondingly different; feathers of back and scapulars more or less wavy- 
barred with white. The female Red-head is sparingly speckled above with dusky 
and whitish, but never barred. Length 20.00-23.50 (508-596.9): wing 9.00 
(228.6) ; tail 2.90 (73.7); bill 2.35 (59.7); tarsus 1.75 (44.5). 
Recognition Marks.— Mallard size; slope of culmen continuous with fore- 
head; reddish brown head and light canvas back. For detailed comparison with 
A. americana see above. 
Nesting.— Nest: on the ground of marshes and grassy sloughs, of grasses, 
etc., lined sparingly with feathers. Eggs: 6-10, buffy white with a greenish or 
bluish tinge. Av. size, 2.45 x 1.75 (62.2 x 44.5). Season: c. June Ist; one brood. 
General Range.—Nearly all of North America, breeding from the north- 
western states northward to Alaska. 
Range in Washington.—West-side, rather common winter resident on salt 
water, found chiefly about mouths of rivers and on tide-flats; East-side, not 
common migrant and rare summer resident. 
Authorities.— [lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed. Biddle: Coues. Vol. 
II. p. 193.] Aythya valisneriana, Newberry, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. VI. pt. IV. 
1857, p. 103.” I’. C&S. L*. Rh: Kb. Kk. B. E. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. B. E. 
TO be classed as a reference book for epicures is far from being the 
main object of “The Birds of Washington.” However, the edible qualities of 
