3O CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



Subfamily ANATIN^E. River Ducks. 



Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus. Mallard. 



Formerly a rare fall migrant on the coast, but much more com- 

 mon in recent years ; occasionally a winter resident. 



Earliest record. New Haven, Oct. 25, 1904. 



Latest record. New Haven, Jan., 1897, and 1899 (L. C. S.) ; 

 Clinton, March 27, 1889 (J. F. Parker). 



This species probably occurs regularly on the Quinnipiac 

 Marshes and Lake Saltonstall (where L. B. B. and others have 

 obtained many records), as well as along the Connecticut River. 



Merriam 1 characterizes the Mallard as a " rare migrant." He 

 notes their occurrence Sept. 30, Oct., and Nov. 13, 1875, and the 

 observations of Grinnell in October and November, 1876. Mr. 

 Hoyt states one was taken in Stamford in the fall of 1879. C. M. 

 Jones of Eastford records 2 a pair shot in Eastford, Oct. 30, 1882, 

 adding that it " is the first time I have ever known of this species 

 occurring here." The first records for New Haven were November 

 5, 1883, when L. B. B. reported three taken in the Quinnipiac 

 Marshes, and Aug. 4, 1886, when E. L. Munson 3 took an adult 

 male at the same locality. However, since that time the Mallards 

 have been increasing, so that recent records are quite numerous 

 for this species in Connecticut. 



Judge Clark reported an unusual flight at Saybrook in the 

 winter of 1901-2, saying he had seen more that winter than in the 

 rest of his life. 



Anas rubripes Brewster. Black Duck. 



A common fall and tolerably common spring migrant and 

 winter resident ; rare summer resident. 



Spring migration. Earliest record, Portland, March 10, 

 1878. Latest record, New Haven, June 27, 1884; Portland, May 

 n, 1908. 



Fall migration. Earliest record, New Haven, Sept. 16, 1904; 

 Portland, Sept. 14, 1877. Latest record, Portland, Nov. 8, 1892. 



Winter records. Portland, Dec. 9, 1896, Jan. 2, 1906. Win- 

 ters at New Haven. 



1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 123. 

 3 O. and O., viii, 4, p. 32. 

 *O. and O., xii, g, p. 156. 



