110 



FULVOUS TREE DUCK 



178. Drntlrori/(/n<i bicolor. 22 in. 



Form like that of the last, but with the head, neck, 

 rump and underparts rusty, and with no white in the 

 wings. The Fulvous Duck is much more abundant in 

 the United States than the Black-bellied, and is casually 

 found as far north as Kansas and Nevada, while it is 

 regularly found in Texas and Louisiana, where it is 

 known as the Long-legged Duck. Owing to the nature 

 of its diet, which consists chiefly of grain, roots and 

 water plants, the llesh of this bird is esteemed as an 

 article of food, and many are killed for such. When 

 wounded, they are said to be difficult to capture, owing 

 to the speed at which they can run; they also swim 

 and dive well. 



Nest. Located in the hollow of a tree, the bottom of 

 the cavity usually being lined with feathers. They lay 

 from ten to fifteen pure white eggs, and as many as 

 thirty-two have been found in one nest, but these were 

 probably laid by two or more females; May. 



Range. Texas and Louisiana, and north casually to 

 Kansas and Nevada. Winters in Mexico. 



