212 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



to draw the line between them, and on the whole it seems best to 

 treat the whole group together. 



Fidigula marila. — Steph. Greater Scaup Duck. Big Black-head. Broad-bill. 

 Blue-bill. Raft Duck. Flocking Fowl. 



In the male, the head, neck and body anteriorly are black, the 

 former with a greenish gloss ; lower back, rump and tail blackish , 

 under parts white with fine wavings of grey or black on belly and 

 sides. Wings black, a patch on the secondaries (the speculum) 

 white ; back white finely waved with black. Bill bluish. Length 

 about twenty inches. The female is somewhat smaller, has the 

 face white, is dull brown where the male is black, and has the 

 wavings on the back indistinct or lacking. 



This is one of the most common of our Sea Ducks, and during 

 its migrations enormous numbers are killed in the West. Driven 

 to the seaboard by the freezing of inland waters, it is shot all 

 through the winter and spring by gunners along the coast. It is 

 found in California in great numbers in winter, and there associates 

 with the Mallards and Canvas-backs. The Broad-bill, as it is usu- 

 ally called on the Atlantic coast, comes up well to decoys, and it is 

 by the use of these that they are killed in the greatest numbers. 

 Sometimes they fly across points and bars during their passage 

 from the roosting to the feeding grounds and back again, and if 

 the gunner should find himself at one of these points just before 

 daylight or sunset, he will be likely to have good shooting for an 

 hour or two. 



Although by far the greater number of the Scaups proceed to 

 the North to breed, still there are a few which make their summer 

 home in the upper Missouri region. They are not nearly as nu- 

 merous here, however, during the summer, as is the next species. 



FiiUgula aJim's.—Eyton. Lesser Scaup Duck. Little Broad-bill, etc. 



Precisely similar in color to the preceding species, but smaller, 

 being only about sixteen inches long. In habits also it resembles 

 the larger Broad-bill with which it is constantly associated. 



This species has been regarded as of doubtful validity, but is 

 now generally accepted as a good one. It seems to be a smaller, 

 more southern form, and in its migrations proceeds farther south 



