of the United States. 383 



Female very different from the male. 



Feed on tender aquatic plants, chiefly seeds and grains, also 

 on spawn, fry, and other aquatic animals. 



323. Anas boschas, L. Mirror violet, bounded with black and 

 white ; rump blackish, tail of twenty feathers. 



Male, head and neck green ; a white collar j middle tail- 

 feathers recurved. 



Female and young wholly brownish, varied with yellowish 

 and blackish. 



The Mallard, Anas boschas, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. p. 112. 

 pi. 70. Jig. 1. 



Inhabits the north of both continents, advancing far to the 

 south in its periodical journeys : common during winter 

 throughout the United States where a few breed. 



324. Anas strepera, L. Mirror white, bordered by black 

 and chesnut j feet orange, webs blackish ; tail of sixteen 

 feathers. 



Male blackish waved with white ; rump black. 



Female duller, rump uniform with the rest. 



The Gadwall, Anas strepera, Wils, Am. Orn. viii. p. 120. 

 pi. 71. Jig. 1. 



Inhabits the north of both continents, whence it migrates in 

 winter : rather rarein the United States. 



325. Anas acuta, L. Mirror green, margined with black 

 and white, above with rusty ; tail very long, cuneiform, 

 acute, of sixteen feathers ; bill very long, linear, slate color. 



Male light ash. a white stripe each side of the neck ; two 

 middle tail feathers greatly elongated, tapering ; vent black. 



Female dusky, speckled with white ; speculum and vent 

 uniform with the rest ; middle tail feathers not elongated. 



Pintail Dusk, Anas acuta, Wils. Am Orn. viii. p. 72. 

 pi. 68. Jig. 3. 



Inhabits the north of both continents, migrating far to the 



