84 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



quick rattling or rolling sound. Its migratory flight is high and 

 rapid. In winter, it is common on the Ohio and Mississippi 

 Rivers, and their tributaiies. In the Chesapeake Bay, where it 

 is abundant, it is called ' Black-headed,' in Virginia, ' Raft 

 Duck.' " — Giraud's Birds of Long Island. 



LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 



FuVgula Marila ; Aud. Fuligula Minor ; Giraud. 



" Specijic Character. — Length of bill along the gap, two 

 inches; of tarsi one inch and an eighth; fiom the point of the bill 

 to the end of the tail-feathei's seventeen inches ; wing eight inches. 

 Adult with the feathers on the head longer, more tufted, than 

 F. marila ; the head and neck more deeply tinged with purple ; 

 the white markings on the wings confined to the secondaries, 

 while in F. marila the white band spreads over the primaries. 



" The female is smaller than the male, and bears the same 

 resemblance in markings to the male as the female of F. marila 

 does to the male of that species. The white band on the wings 

 as pointed out, is at all times the best specific character. 



" This bird is very closely allied to the preceding, so nearly 

 that it has been overlooked and confounded with that species by 

 our most eminent Ornithologists. On a close investigation, we 

 find well-defined specific characters in marking, &c., as well as 

 inferiority in point of size. The Lesser Scaup Duck is well 

 known to the bay gunners by the name of ' Creek Broad-bill,' 

 from its habit of frequenting the small streams, while the Scaup 

 Duck — F. marila — is usually observed on the open bays. It is 

 a very abundant species, and during autumn and the early part 

 of spring, is quite common along the middle Atlantic districts, 

 as well as on the streams in the interior. Its choice of food, mi- 

 grations and breeding range, are similar to the former." — Gi- 

 raud's Birds of Long Island. 



