294 FEATHEBED GAME 



wider upon the sides and flanks ; under tail cov- 

 erts black. Bill dull bluish; feet dull orange 

 with dusky webs and nails. Iris reddish 

 brown. 



The female is a little smaller than the male; 

 bill orange yellow with splashes of dusky color 

 upon it. Feet as in the male, perhaps a little 

 more dingy in shade. Above, the bird is col- 

 ored with a mixture of tawny yellow, brown 

 and black. Little or no chestnut on wing cov- 

 erts; speculum white. The young male dur- 

 ing the first year resembles the female, as is 

 the rule with most ducks of the year. 



In length this species is from twenty-one to 

 twenty-three inches ; in extent it averages from 

 thirty-three to thirty-five inches. Weight about 

 two and one-half pounds. 



The title, "blarting duck," is given it in some 

 localities from its noisy habits. The scientist 

 has used a more euphonious word, but freely 

 translated, streperus conveys the same idea. 



This species is almost entirely a citizen of 

 the fresh water. In some portions of the coun- 

 try it is known as the " Creek Duck" because 

 of its marked fondness for small streams. In 

 common with the other "river ducks" the Gad- 



