NATATORES — ANATID.E — FULIGULA. 327 



(2.) Tail long, pointed, of eighteen feathers : no evident tail-coverts. Gymnura. 



THE RUDDY DUCK. 



FtJLIGULA RUBIDA. 

 PLATE CXVIII. FIG. 261. 



(STATE COLLECTION. Cabinet op the lycettm.) 



Anas rubida. Wilson, Am. Om. Vol. 8, p. 125, pi. 71, figs. 5 and 6. 



Oxyura id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. 'V. Vol. 2, p. 390. 



Gymnura id. Nottall, Man. Ora. Vol. 2, p. 425. Aodubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 324, pi. 399. 



Erismatura id. Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List. 



F. id. Sabine, Franklin's Journey. Rich. F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 455. Giradd, Birds of Long island, p. 327. 



Characteristics. Mirror none : nostrils linear, small. Tail-feathers concave above. Male, 

 reddish brown ; crown, front and nape bluish black ; sides of the head 

 and chin white- Female, blackish, minutely sprinkled with whitish ; 

 crown darker; sides of the head dusky and whitish. Length, 15  5. 



Description. Bill large, broad, 1 ' 6 long, and dilated towards the end to 0' 9 ; the feathers 

 of the frontlet descending lowest in the centre : tip minutely serrate on its margin. Nostrils 

 small, medial, contiguous. Wings very short, 5-5. Tarsus 1*4. Tail short, graduated, of 

 eighteen pointed feathers ; the shafts extending beyond the webs. 



Color. Male, shot April 2 : Crown deeply intermixed with rufous ; chin and sides of the 

 head white ; throat dark ashy brown ; anterior part of the breast of a scorched chesnut-color ; 

 abdomen yellowish white ; all the parts beneath polished, the feathers setaceous. Sides of 

 the body barred with reddish brown and dusky. Back and wing-coverts brown, intermixed 

 with bright chesnut (sometimes of a uniform bright chesnut). Tail dusky yellowish on the 

 outer webs, darker on the inner : axillary feathers white, brown at the base. Length, 16 '0. 

 Female, shot November 7 : Crown and nape rufous, minutely barred with black ; beneath 

 glossy yellowish white ; above brown, barred and sprinkled with rufous and grey ; tail dark 

 brown; chin and throat greyish white. Young, barred with reddish brown and black: a 

 light grey streak from the base of the bill, passing under and behind the eye. 



Length, 15-0- 16'0. 



The Dun-bird, Looby or Dun Diver, is rather rare on the coast of this State. It is a boreal 

 species, breeding in high northern latitudes, descending along the whole coast of the United 

 States in the winter, and penetrating into the interior. It is frequently called the Saltwater 

 Teal. Its food consists of marine and freshwater plants and seeds, and its flesh is said to be 

 very savory. Its history yet incomplete. 



