174 RIVER AND POND DUCKS 



ing less and rather finer than that on the cheeks of the Mottled Duck, and has 

 almost no streaking around base of bill, on chin or throat. The Mottled Duck 

 is darker in tone over the whole body than is the Florida. From the Black Duck 

 it is told by its broader, more cinnamon-buffy edges to the back feathers and by 

 feature (d) above; both species frequently have white tips to the secondaries. 



JUVENILES. See "Description." 



FIELD MARKS 



Same as those of Black Duck, except for general coloration of body plumage 

 which more closely resembles that of female Mallard. The Florida Duck is seldom 

 encountered outside its restricted range. 



LIFE STORY 



The Mottled Duck occupies, in both winter and summer, a re- 

 stricted range in the States of Louisiana and Texas. In all its habits and 

 in its appearance it is similar to its near relative and neighbour, the 

 Florida Duck, and to its close relative, the Black Duck. 



It was considered identical with the Florida until Sennet in 1889 

 called attention to the characters which separate the twain into distinct 

 subspecies; when the darker, Mottled Duck, was subspecifically named 

 maculosa. 



It builds the same carefully concealed nest as does the Florida and 

 the eggs of the two are alike except that those of the Mottled are slightly 

 smaller; the average size being 2.16 by 1.59 inches. 



In Louisiana it is called Summer Black Duck to distinguish it from 

 the true Black Duck which winters there in large numbers and is known 

 locally as the Winter Black. 



