352 RED-HEADED DUCK. 



part of the breast black, spreading round to the back; belly 

 white, becoming dusky towards the vent by closely marked un- 

 dulating lines of black; back and scapulars bluish white, ren- 

 dered gray by numerous transverse waving lines of black; les- 

 ser wing coverts brownish ash; wing quills very pale slate, 

 dusky at the tips; lower part of the back and sides under the 

 wings brownish black, crossed with regular zig-zag lines of whi- 

 tish; vent, rump, tail, and tail coverts black; legs and feet dark 

 ash. 



The female has the upper part of the head dusky brown, rest 

 of the head and part of the neck a light sooty brown; upper part 

 of the breast ashy brown, broadly skirted with whitish; back 

 dark ash, with little or no appearance of white pencilling; wings, 

 bill, and feet nearly alike in both sexes. 



This Duck is sometimes met with in the rivers of North and 

 South Carolina, and also in those of Jersey and New York; but 

 always in fresh water, and usually at no great distance from 

 the sea. Is most numerous in the waters of the Chesapeake; 

 and with the connoisseurs in good eating, ranks next in excel- 

 lence to the Canvas-back. Its usual weight is about a pound and 

 three-quarters, avoirdupois. 



The Red-head leaves the bay and its tributary streams in 

 March, and is not seen until late in October. 



The male of this species has a large flat bony labyrinth on 

 the bottom of the windpipe, very much like that of the Canvas- 

 back, but smaller; over one of its concave sides is spread an ex- 

 ceeding thin transparent skin, or membrane. The intestines 

 are of great width, and measure six feet in length. 



