BIRDS OK THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 1 85 



and on a long journey they can fly at the rate of a hundred and 

 twenty miles in the hour." Dr. Bryant found this species common 

 during the winter. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VI. pi. 385. 



DAFILA BAHAMENSIS. (Linn) 

 Bahama Duck. 



Adidl Male. — General plumage, tawny, mottled and streaked 

 with brown ; wing, banded with lustrous green, black, and tawny, in 

 the order given ; top of head and nape, brown, finely mottled with 

 dark brown, rest of head and throat white ; a triangular patch on 

 each side of the upper mandible, lake-red ; tail, tawny, becoming 

 pale at the tip ; legs, black. 



Length 19, wing 8, tail 4.75, tarsus 1.25, bill 1.95. 



This pretty little species was quite abundant at Inagua, frequent- 

 ing the large salt ponds of the interior. On May 27, while shooting 

 on a small island in the lake back of Mathewstown, I observed a 

 number of these birds, and shot several, all of which were in full 

 breeding dress. While passing through a small marsh I discovered 

 the nest of this species, the old bird flying away as I approached. 

 It was simply a mat of grass placed on the ground, and contained 

 nine eggs of a pale brown color. Another nest, taken a few days 

 later, contained eight eggs, slightly darker than the first set. 

 24 



