ANATID.E— THE SWANS, GEESK, AND DUCKS. 153 



Gen. Chak. Bill small, much shorter than tho heart, all tho lateral outhnes gradually 

 convoreing toward the end, the nail very large, broad, and prominent, formiug the tip 

 of tho bill; lamoU.-r oomploti'ly hidden. Adult male with tho head crested, the colors 

 rich aud varied, and tho markings elegant; tortials exceedingly broad, truncate. 



The above characters are framed so as to include tho Chinese Mandarin Duck lA i.r 

 galericulata),' the only other known species of tho genus. This duck is quite similar to 

 our Wood Duck in style of coloration and in genei-al appearance, but differs in many 

 external characters, and if not gonerically distinct should at least be considered tho typo 

 of a different subgenus. 



Aix sponsa (Li mi.) 



Popular synonyms. Summer Duck: Bridal Duck: Wood Widgeon (Connecticut): Acorn 



Duck; Tree Duck. 

 ,lnii.s sponsa LiNN. 8- N. ed. 10. i. 175S. 128; ed. 12, i, 1766, 207.— Wn.s. Am. Orn. viii,181l, 



97, pi. 70 fig. 3.— NuTT. Man. ii. 183J. 391.— AuD. Orn. Biog. iii, 1S35. 52; v, 1839, CIS, 



pi. 206; Synop. 1839, 280; B. Am. vi. 1813. 271, pi. 391. 

 Aix sponsa BoNAP. Comp. List, 1838. 57.— Baibd, B. N. Am. 1S5S. 785; Cat. N. Am. B. 



1859. No. 587.— CouKS. Key, 1872. 288; Chock List. 1873, No. 199; 2d ed. 1882. No. 719; 



B. N. W. 1874. 571.-niDOW. Orn. 10th Par. 1877. 624; Nom, N. Am. B. 1881. No. 013: 



Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 99.-A. O. U. Cheek List, 1886, No. 141. -B. B. & B. Water 



B. N. Am. ii, 1881. 11. 

 De.ndronessn sponsa 8w. &BlcH. F. B.-A. ii, 1831, 146. 



Hab. Whole of temperate North America, north to the Fur Countries: breeding 

 throughout its range. Cuba. Accidental in Europe. 



Sp. Chab. Adult mah: Chin, throat, and forenock pure white, sending off laterally 

 two branches.— the first across the cheeks, back of. and nearly to, the posterior angle of the 

 eye, tho second acro.ss the lower part of the neck, almost to thenapo; both bars tapering 

 toward tho end. and somewhat curved or falcate in shape; a narrow white lino begins at 

 the point of the maxillary angli!. and is continued backward on each side of tho crown, wid- 

 ening considerably on tho sido of the crest; a second white line commences about half an 

 inch behind tho eye, and nearly tho same distance above the end of tho white cheek-bar, 

 and follows the lower edge of the crest, whore considerably wider posteriorly; remainder of 

 the head silky meUillic green, violet, and purplo, as follows: cheeks and spnee behind tho 

 white cheek-bar soft violaceous-black, in tho latter region extending up to the lower white 

 stripe, but in the anterior area bounded above and anteriorly by dark metallic greon; tho 

 orbital region and anter ior half of tho crest botwoon tho white lines metallic reddish-pur- 

 plo; forehead, crown, and posterior portion of tho crest metallic groon: ti^rminal portion 

 of the crest, above, laterally, and beneath, dark metallic violet. Chest rich purplish chest- 

 nut, with a metallic-purple gloss laterally, tho front and lower part marked with deltoid 

 spots of white, growing larger toward tho breast; breast and abdomen immaculate white; 

 sides of tho breast with a broad white transverse bar, ami a wide black one immediately 

 behind it; si lesand Hanks pale fulvous-buff delicately waved with black, oa.'h of tho broad 

 feathers forming the upper border beautifully marked with two black crcwentic bars, in- 

 closing a white one; (rrissum dull black, fading gradually into dull rusty-fulvous on the 

 anal region. Back, lessor wing-covorts, and rump dark slaty brownish, very fulntlv glossed 

 with bronze, the wlng-covoris more slaty, the rump much darker.and gradually deepening 

 into black toward tho uppoi- tail-coverts, which, with tho tall, are deep black, the latter with 

 bronze-green rellocllons In certain lights; u somewhat ovato patch (pointed posteriorly) of 

 rich dark metallic maroon-purple on each side of tho rump. Immediately behind tho flanks; 



'Aiz galeiirulnta Linn. 8. N, ed. 10. i. 1758. 128.— /I ij; galericulata BoiB. Isls, 18J8,329. 



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