NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



103 



177. BLACK-BELLIED TREE-DUCK. Dcndroctf</na autumnalis (Linn.) 

 )g. Dist. Southwestern border of the United States and southward (Mexico, West 



idies, etc.) 



The Autumnal Tree-duck is a species of variegated plumage and long legs. It 

 ibits the southwestern border of the United States and southward to Mexico, 



Test Indies, Central and South America. It is commonly called "Long-legged Tree- 

 luck." Along the Rio Grande in Mexico and Texas it is abundant from April to 

 )ctober and later. Dr. Merrill found it common in Southern Texas. He says: "This 



irge and handsome bird arrives from the South in April, and is soon found in 

 ibundance on the river banks and lagoons. Migrating at night it continually utters 



peculiar chattering whistle, which at once indicates its presence. Called by the 



texicans jxitos maizal, or Corn-field Duck, from its habit of frequenting those lo- 



ilities. It is by no means shy, and large numbers are offered for sale in the 

 Jrownsville market. Easily domesticated, it becomes very tame, roosting at night 

 irees with chickens and turkeys. When the females begin to lay, the males leave 



lem and gather in large flocks on sand-bars in the river. My knowledge of the 

 ceding habits is derived from Dr. S. M. Finley, U. S. A., who had ample oppor- 



mity of observing these birds at Hidalgo. The eggs are deposited in hollow trees 

 ind branches, often at a considerable distance from water (two miles), and from 

 ?ight to thirty feet or more from the ground. The eggs are placed on the bare wood, 



id are from twelve to sixteen in number. Two broods are raised, and the parent 



irries the young to the water in her bill. Twelve eggs received from Dr. Finley 

 iverage 2.11x1.53, with but little variation in size; they are of the usual duck shape, 

 ind in color are a rather clear yellowish-white. The birds leave in September, but a 



jw late broods are seen as late as November. The soft parts in a full plumaged liv- 

 male were as follows: iris, brown; bill, coral-red, orange above; nail of bill, 

 bluish; legs and feet, pinkish white."* 



178. FULVOUS TREE-DUCK. Dendrocj/ffna fulva (Gmel.) Geog. Dist. 

 Southern border of the United 



States; Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, 

 California, southward. 



Resembles the last in its gen- 

 eral appearance, habits, etc. Its 

 geographical range is chiefly 

 within the tropics, extending as 

 far South as the Argentine Re- 

 public. Dr. Merrell states that 

 this species is about as common 

 as the Corn-field Duck in South- 

 ern Texas, both species frequent- 

 ing the same places. He learned 

 nothing definite in regard to its 

 breeding habits, but they prob- 

 ably do not differ much from 

 those of the other bird. The Ful- 

 vous Tree-duck is said to lay 

 from ten to fifteen pure white 

 eggs. 



178. FULVOUS TREE-DUCK. (Jasper.) 



* Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas: Proceedings U. S. National Museum, 

 Vol. I., page 169. 



