BiEDS OF Indiana. 617 



Subgenus Fuligula Stephens. 



41. (148). '^ythya marila nearctica (Ste.jn.). 



American Scaup Duck. 

 Synonyms, Big Black-head, Blue-bill, Broad-bill, Raft-duck. 



Adult Male. — Head, neck and chest uniform black, the first with 

 greenish gloss; back and scapulars grayish-white, zigzagged with black 

 and yellow; speculum white, tipped with black; bill dull blue with 

 black nail; legs plumbeous. Female. — Space about base of bill, white; 

 rest of head and anterior parts brown; and other black parts of the 

 male rather brownish; speculum and belly white. 



•Length, 18.00-20.00; wing, 8.25-9.00 (8.63); bill, 1.85-2.20 (2.03); 

 greatest width of bill, .85-1.05 (.97); least width, .70-.90 (.79). 



Eange. — North America. Breeds in Minnesota and Manitoba and 

 northward through Alaska. Winters from southern Illinois and Long 

 Island to Central America and West Indies. 



Nest, on ground in grassy or marshy places about open lakes. Eggs, 

 6-10; buffy, olive-gray; 2.54 by 1.71. 



Bare migrant; most often noted in the Wabash Valley. Quite rare 

 in fall. 



Some years they begin the spring migration by March 1 and occa- 

 sionally remain until April 10. It has been noted in Knox County by 

 Angus Gaines. Vigo County, about March 1, 1886, (Prof. 0. P. Jen- 

 kins.) March 26, 1887, several seen; a male killed. (Prof. B. W. Ever- 

 mann.) Also, by Dr. J. T. Scovell. Monroe County, March 4, 1886, one 

 (B. W. Evermann). Dekalb County, by Mr.H. W.McBride, and by Mr. 

 J. T. Feagler April 5 and 10, 1896. Allen County, by Mr. C. A. Stock- 

 bridge. Lake County, by Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr., and April 9, 1887, by 

 Mr. Graham Davis. In Franklin County Dr. Eufus Haymond noted 

 it, and I recorded it March 4, 1896. I have no fall record. It is not 

 noted in the interior as commonly in fall as in spring. 



While Mr. W. H. Collins has observed it breeding at St. Clair Flats, 

 Mich. (B. N. 0. C. V., p. 61), and its nesting has been noted in Minne- 

 sota, it usually breeds from Manitoba northward to the Alaskan Coast 

 and Greenland. In one's mind birds, especially ducks, are recalled by 

 association. I think of this species being noticeably so much rarer 

 than its miniature and relative, the Lesser Scaup Duck, and recall that 

 the Canvas-back is likewise rarer than that for which it is sometimes 

 taken, the Eedhead, and the Black Duck is proportionately rarer than 

 its near relative, the Mallard. 



