BIRDS OF KANSAS. 63 



outer scapulars similarly waved. Sides of the breast with a large transverse 

 bar of plain white. Crissum rich deep cream color, bounded anteriorly, arid di- 

 vided medially, with velvety black; post-femoral region waved like the flanks; 

 rest of lower parts plain white, sometimes tinged with cream color. Back, 

 scapulars, rump, wing coverts, primaries and tail plain cinereous. Outer row 

 of scapulars, with their outer webs, about half velvety black, bordered interiorly 

 with a white line. Last row of coverts broadly tipped with deep ochraceous; 

 speculum opaque black narrowly tipped with white, the four or five upper 

 feathers with their outer webs richly brilliant soft metallic green, varying from 

 golden to violaceous, according to the light. Bill black; iris brown; feet light 

 fleshy (horn color when dried). Adult female: Wing as in the male, but 

 duller. Above, cinereous dusky, variegated with edgings and transverse bars 

 of ochraceous white. Ground color of the head, neck and lower parts dingy 

 whitish, more or less tinged with ochraceous; head and neck speckled with 

 dusky, the spots enlarged and aggregated on the pileum, so as to form the pre- 

 vailing color, and also along the upper border of the ear coverts, producing a 

 stripe from the eye back. Jugulum, sides and flanks more heavily spotted with 

 dusky. Abdomen sometimes plain, but usually speckled. Bill brownish; iris 

 brown; feet pale brown (fleshy in life). Young male: Similar to the adult fe- 

 male, but entire abdomen and sides immaculate white. Downy young: Above, 

 grayish brown with a light grayish buff spot on each side of the back, and a 

 similar pair on the rump; wings crossed near the ends by a light grayish buff 

 bar. Head, neck and lower parts light dull buff; crown and occiput covered by 

 an elongated patch of grayish brown (darker than the back), this scarcely 

 reaching the forehead, but continued down the nape to the brown of the back; 

 a dusky streak behind the eye, not reaching to the occiput; below the posterior 

 end of this, an oblong spot of grayish brown." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 14.50 24.50 7.30 3.10 1.20 1.50 



Female... 13.50 22.25 6.50 3.00 1.12 1.40 



This handsome little Duck is usually found in small flocks 

 along the edges of shallow, grassy waters, feeding largely upon 

 seeds, aquatic plants and insect life; they fatten very fast in 

 the rice fields, and are very fond of acorns; and, in their search 

 for the same, I have started them quite a distance from the water. 

 The birds walk with ease, and carry themselves as gracefully 

 upon the land as upon the water. In exposed situations they 

 feed largely in the night, resting during the day upon bogs or 

 small bare spots, closely surrounded and hidden by reeds and 

 grasses. 



On the 23d of March, 1887, I met with a small flock near 

 Orange Walk, oil the Belize river, British Honduras, but they 

 winter chiefly along the southern borders of the United States. 



