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FULIGULA LABRADORA— LATHAM. 



PIED DUCK. 



Pied Duck, Anas labradora, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Fuligula labradora, Bonap. Syn. 



Pied Duck, Nutt. Man. 



Pied Duck, Fuligula labradora, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Wing coverts and the secondaries white, for- 

 ming" a large conspicuous patch on the wings — the cheeks are fur- 

 nished with bristly feathers ; bill at the base orange, toward the end 

 black; the sides of the upper mandible, very thin, tapering over the 

 under, which is deeply serrated. Adult male with the bill at the 

 base pale orange, anterior to the nostrils blackish ; on the top of the 

 head a broad band of black, narrowing as it extends to the occiput ; 

 the feathers on the cheeks are stiff and bristly, of a brownish cast ; 

 rest part of the head and upper part of the neck all around white ; 

 about the middle of the neck, a broad band of black, forming a com- 

 plete ring, the same color passing down on the back ; lower neck 

 white ; upper part of the breast and sides of the body black j the rest 

 of the lower plumage brownish-black, the under tail-coverts lighter ; 

 primaries and their coverts brownish-black, secondaries white, a few 

 of their outer webs margined with black ; their coverts the same co- 

 lor j rump and upper tail-coverts dusky, marked with minute spots 

 of grayish-brown. Female, lower plumage ash gray, spotted with 

 brown ; upper parts bluish-gray ; several of the secondaries and 

 sides of the forehead white. Male, length twenty inches, wing nine 

 inches. Female one inch and a half less. 



This species is called by our gunners " Skunk Duck," so named 

 from the similarity of its markings to that animal. With us it is ra- 

 ther rare, " chiefly inhabiting the western side of the continent." 

 In New-Jersey it is called Sand-shoal Duck. It subsists on small 

 shell and other fish, which it procures by diving. Its flesh is not 

 considered a delicacy. A few are seen in our market every season. 



