APPENDIX 169 



and one at Hog Island, Va., Aug. 20, 1886; but these are 

 unusually early records. The average of a long series of 

 excellent records at Alexandria, Va., is Sept. 30 for the 

 arrival of the first and Oct. 31 as the average date when 

 they become common. About the middle of October, on 

 the New England coast, they become common enough to 

 usher in the shooting season. These dates, of course, 

 apply to A. obscura. There are no exact records of the 

 time when A. rubripcs arrives from its northern breeding 

 grounds, but it is supposed that it reaches New England 

 about the first week in October. In winter it remains as 

 far north as it can find open water. The average date when 

 the last leave Ottawa, Ont., is Nov. 7 (latest, Nov. 21, 

 1892) ; average at Montreal, Nov. 6 (latest, Nov. 14, 

 1896.) The last one was seen at Prince Edward Island 

 Nov. 13, 1889, and Dec. 8, 1890. 



Anas fulvigula Ridgw. Florida Duck. 

 A nonmigratory .species, breeding commonly in the 

 southern half of Florida, and less commonly in the north- 

 ern portion. It seems to be absent from northeastern 

 Florida, but occurs along the northwestern coast of the 

 State. Nests in late April and in May, but sometimes 

 much earlier, for downy young have been seen as early 

 as April 6. 



Anas fulvigula maculosa (Senn.) Mottled Duck. 

 Resident in Texas and southern Louisiana (Lake Ar- 

 thur.) In Texas it occurs from the mouth of the Rio 

 Grande northward and west to about the middle of the 

 State. It is accidental in Kansas (Neosho Falls, March 

 11, 1876.) It breeds throughout most if not all of its 

 Texas range ; the eggs are deposited in April. 



