KF.Y TO Tin-: W'A'I'i:!^ I'.IRDS OI'' I'LOKIDA. 



227 



Minncsola norlhward. It ranges in winter south to the Northern West 

 Indies and occasionally occurs in Florichi, aUhou<;h not in any ,i;reat numbers. 

 It is a very abundant species from Carolina to Virginia durin_<,^ the winter, 

 in suitable localities. The Red-head may easily be distini^niished from the 

 Canvas-back by the shape of the bill. The forehead arches abrujnly from 

 the bill and does not follow^ the line of the bill, as in the Canvas-back. 



The female Red-head closely resembles the female of the Rin<;-necked 

 Duck but is laro;er. It does not breed on the AUandc coast.* 



AYTHYA VALLI5NERIA {JFi/s.). 

 Canvas=back Duck. 



A (///// male : Head and neck rufous Ijrown 

 l)ecoming dusky on the crown and chin; the 

 l:)reast and upper portion of tlie back blackish ; 

 rest of upper parts and wing coverts showing 

 ^M fine wavy lines of black, general appearance 

 4| lieing grayish; belly white, the lower portion 

 faintly lined with dusky. Sides white, showing 

 the delicate lines as on the back, but very much 

 fainter and sometimes wanting. 



Adult female : Head and neck cinnamon 

 brown, paler on tlie throat: belly white or gray- 

 isli white. 



Length, 20 to 22 ; Wing. 8. 75 to 9.25 ; Bill, .75 

 to .So: Tarsus, 1.70. 



The peculiar formation of the bill 

 will always distinguish this species 

 from the Red-head, which it some- 

 wdiat resembles. 



Occurs throughout North America and is more common in the West. 

 Breeds from the Northwestern States northward to Alaska. It ranges in 

 winter south to Cuba and Jamaica, although it is only a straggler and is by 

 no means common in Florida. I have occasionally killed specimens as far 

 south as Cape Canaveral. 



This species is common off the coast of Virginia and Chesapeake Bay 

 durino- the winter months. It does not breed on the Atlantic coast. 



* A single instance is on record of a pair Ijeing found breeding near Calais, Maine. 



