BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK 



375 



are conspicuous; the long feet trail behind the tail, and they present a most unduck- 

 like appearance. 



VOICE. A peculiar, shrill whistle, pe-che-che-ne. 



LIFE STORY 



The Black-bellied Tree Duck is abundant in Mexico where, on ac- 

 count of its habit of frequenting the cornfields, it is called by the natives 

 "patos maizal," or "cornfield duck," and is said to do considerable 

 damage feeding on the corn; it is also known as the "pe-che-che-ne" 

 duck. It visits Texas but is rare in the rest of the United States and 

 therefore of little interest to the majority of gunners or naturalists of 

 North America. It is readilv domesticated and is an excellent table bird. 



"This duck perches with facility on the branches of trees, and when 

 in the cornfields, upon the stalks, in order to reach the ears of corn. 

 Large flocks of them spend the day on the bank of some secluded lagoon, 

 densely bordered with woods or water flags, also sitting among the 

 branches of trees, not often feeding or stirring about during the day. 

 When upon the wing they constantly utter their peculiar whistle of 

 pe-che-che-ne, from which they have received their name from the na- 

 tives. . . . this species seldom alights in deep water, always preferring 

 the shallow water edges, or the ground; the cause of this may be from 

 the fear of the numerous alligators that usually infest the lagoons. When 

 taken young, or the eggs hatched under the common barnyard hen, they 

 become very domestic without being confined; they are very w r atchful 

 during the night, and like the goose, give the alarm by their shrill 

 whistle when any strange animal or person comes about the house. A 



