THE CANVASBACK 331 



grayer on the cheeks and behind the eyes. The 

 back, also is more brownish in tone. 



The length of this species is from nineteen 

 to twenty-one inches ; the extent from thirty to 

 thirty-two inches. 



THE CANVASBACK. 



(Aythya vallisneria.) 



The duck slayer of New England will have 

 little acquaintance with this bird unless he is 

 lucky enough to travel west or south for his 

 shooting, for this fowl of savory reputation is 

 a very unusual sight in our home waters. 

 Widely dispersed, dwelling in nearly every part 

 of North America, they avoid New England and 

 the northeastern corner of our continent very 

 carefully, as do so many other feathered mi- 

 grants, so that we of these sections must con- 

 tent ourselves with other game, for there is 

 small likelihood of our getting a chance at the 

 " aristocratic Canvasback. ' ' 



Of its life and habits, aside from its shot- 

 dodging during the fall and winter, we know 

 very little save that it occasionally nests in the 

 northern States of the Union, in California, and 



