Vol. XXXVIIl 



1920 



Huber, A New Black Duck. Zlo 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW NORTH AMERICAN DUCK 



BY WHARTON HUBER 



While collecting ducks south of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, 

 New Mexico, during the winter and spring of 1915, I noticed 

 numbers of very dark individuals in the flocks of Mallards flying 

 over the sloughs and along the Rio Grande River; while during 

 April and May these ducks were generally seen in pairs. 



Upon making inquiries I find these ducks to be fairly common, 

 especially during the late spring and early fall; they are however, 

 just as plentiful during the winter months but are lost sight of in 

 the large flocks of ducks that make their winter home in the Rio 

 Grande Valley of New Mexico. 



A careful study of specimens secured seem to indicate that the 

 bird in question is an undescribed member of the Black Duck 

 group and may be described as follows. 



My thanks are due to the following for assistance rendered in 

 preparing this paper: Dr. Witmer Stone, Mr. E. W. Nelson, Dr. 

 H. C. Oberholser, Dr. C. W. Richmond and Mr. J. H. Riley. 



Anas novimexicana New Mexican Duck 



Description: Type No. 1928. Collection of Wharton Huber. Adult 

 male; along the Rio Grande River west of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, 

 New Mexico. 



May 7, 1915; Wharton Huber. Forehead and top of head black streak- 

 ed with pinkish buff. Auricular? and sides of neck pinkish buff streaked 

 with black. Throat pinkish buff unstreaked. Breast black margined 

 and mottled with cinnamon ; turning to vinaceous buff on abdomen. Un- 

 der-tail coverts centially black edged with grayish-white, the outer edges 

 of the feathers margined with cinnamon-rufous. Flanks black-edged and 

 internally streaked with cinnamon and vinaceous-buff . Back, rump and 

 upper-tail coverts black streaked and margined with cinnamon and vina- 

 ceous-buff. Primaries mummy brown, darker on the outer webs. Under 

 wing coverts white. Speculum dark dull bluish-violet bordered by a 

 black band then a white band. Bill in life, pyrite yellow. Nail black. Feet 

 an! legs in life, Grenadine orange. 



The fall plumage is much darker and the edgings of the feather smuch 

 deeper cinnamon. The feathers of the throat are streaked with black. 



Measurements: Type; length, 545 mm.; wing, 279; tail 94; exposed 

 culmen, 55; tarsus, 46. 



