32O ANATIM:: SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 



neck patches, and absence of white on the wing. Length, 15.00- 

 20.00, or more, according to tail ; extent, 28.00 ; wing, 8.00- 

 9.00; bill, i.io; tarsus, 1.50. 



An abundant winter resident all along the coast, and 

 even more numerous during the migrations, arriving in 

 October, and remaining until April. The following in- 

 teresting paragraph is cited from Dr. Merriam : " This 

 is by far the most abundant species of Duck found along 

 our coast, and during the migrations (notably in Novem- 

 ber) hundreds of thousands of them can be seen on the 

 Sound, covering the waters as far as the eye can reach 

 in every direction, and almost deafening one by their 

 constant, and to my ears not altogether unpleasant, 

 cackle. They are continually on the move, and, notwith- 

 standing their immense numbers, it is no easy task to 

 approach within gunshot of the flock. Though as strictly 

 maritime as any of our ducks, they have occasionally 

 strayed so far into the interior as Ohio (Wheaton). Mr. 

 Grinnell tells me that they occasionally breed here, but 

 these may be wounded birds, ' pensioners,' as they 

 are commonly called" (Rev. B. Conn., 1877, p. 126). Mr. 

 H. Herrick thinks they may breed at Grand Menan, 

 N. B., where he has known them to be shot June 18 

 (Bull. Essex Inst, v, 1873). 



LABRADOR OR PIED DUCK. 

 CAMPTOL^EMUS LABRADORIUS (Gm.) Gray. 



Chars. Bill enlarged towards end by membraneous expansion, the 

 nostrils in its basal third ; cheek-feathers rigid. Male with the 

 body and primaries black ; rest of the wing, with neck and 



