74 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



days later than the Canada Geese, and pass in large flocks both 

 through the interior and on the seacoast.' " — Giraud's Birds of 

 Long Island. 



SEA DUCKS. 



CANVASS-BACK DUCK. 



Canvass-hacked Duck, Anas Valisneria ; Wils. Amer. Orn. Fuh- 

 gula Valisneria ; Ban. Syn. Fuligula Valisneria, Canvass-hach 

 Duck ; Sw. ^' Rich. Cam' ass-hacked Duck; Nutt. Mafi. 



" Specijic Character. — Bill black, the length about three 

 inches, and very high at the base ; fore part of the head and the 

 throat dusky ; irides deep red ; breast brownish-black. Adult 

 male with the forehead, loral space, throat and upper part of the 

 head dusky ; sides of the head, neck all round for nearly the 

 entire length, reddish-chestnut ; lower neck, fore part of the 

 breast and back black, rest of the back white, closely marked 

 with undulating lines of black ; rump and upper tail coverts 

 blackish ; wing Coverts gray, speckled with blackish ; primaries 

 and secondaries light slate color. Tail short, the feathers 

 pointed ; lower part of the breast and abdomen white ; flanks 

 same color, finely pencilled with dusky ; lower tail-coverts 

 blackish-brown, intermixed with white. Length twenty-two 

 inches, wing nine and a quarter. 



" Female, upper parts grayish-brown ; neck, sides and abdo 

 men the same ; upper part of the breast brown ; belly white, 

 pencilled with blackish ; rather smaller than the male, with the 

 crown blackish-brown. 



" This species is not found in any part of Europe. Its richly 

 flavored flesh is admitted by all to be superior to any other of 

 this genus. The Canvass-back Duck returns from its breeding 



