THE NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY. 37 



all go south. I have found it nesting at a point about thirty-five 

 miles south of Chicago. Some years ago the Mallard was said 

 to be a common summer resident. 



The range of this, the best known of all our ducks, not only 

 includes the whole of North America but also the whole of the 

 northern hemisphere. In North America, it breeds nearly 

 throughout its range. 



Anas obscura Gmelin. Black Duck. 



Anas obscura GMELIN, S. N., I, 1788, 541. 



Popular synonyms: BLACK MALLABD. DUSKY DUCK. 



A rather common migrant, arriving in the fall with the first 

 of the Mallards, and remaining in our vicinity for a short time. 

 Dr. Robert Ridgway says this region is nearly the western limit 

 of its range. In the spring, the Black Duck arrives about the 

 first of April and in the fall its first appearance is about the last 

 of September. 



The range of this duck covers eastern North America, and 

 it breeds from the northern portion of the United States north- 

 ward. 



Genus CHAULELASMUS Bonaparte, 1838. 



Chanlelasmns streperus (Linnaeus). Gadwall. 



Anas strepera LINNAEUS, S. N., ed. 10, I, 1758, 125. 

 Chaulelasmus streperus BONAPABTE, Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, 56. 

 Popular synonyms: GBAY DUCK. WIDGEON. SPECKLE-BELLY. CBEEK 

 DUCK. 



I can find very few records of the Gadwall having been seen 

 within our limits, although a number are shot each year on the 

 Kankakee and Illinois rivers. Mr. E. W. Nelson, in his report 

 on the "Birds of Northeastern Illinois," says: "This beautiful 

 species is very common during the migration, from the middle 

 of October to the last of November, and from the first to the 

 last of April. A very rare summer resident. I have seen but 

 two or three pairs here in the breeding season." A specimen in 

 the museum of The Chicago Academy of Sciences was taken at 

 Liverpool, Indiana, October 18, 1896. 



A nearly cosmopolitan species, in North America breeding 

 chiefly within the United States. 



Genus MARECA Stephens, 1824. 



Mareca penelope (LinnsBus). Widgeon. 



Anas penelope LINNJEUS. S. N., ed. 10, I, 1758, 126. 

 Mareca penelope SELBY, Br. Orn., II, 1833, 324. 



