BIRDS OF NEW YORK 203 



on belly, black on neck running up much higher; bill bright slaty blue with 

 black tip; feet dull bluish; iris orange yellow. Female and young: Like 

 female Canvasback in color but shape of head and bill like male. Size 

 of the smaller dimensions given. 



Length 20-22.5 inches; extent 34; wing 9-10; tail 3; tarsus 1.5; middle 

 toe and claw 2.8; bill, length 1.9-2, hight at base .9, width .87; weight 2-3 

 pounds. 



Distribution and migration. Fifteen years ago this species was a com- 

 mon migrant on the Great Lakes, the central lakes and the Hudson river, 

 as well as the waters of the Long Island coast. It is, however, somewhat 

 irregular in manner of occurrence, some years being abundant on the Long 

 Island coast as well as the inland waters, and in other seasons is uncommon 

 or altogether absent. It frequently remains throughout the winter in 

 considerable numbers on Long Island waters and less commonly on the 

 Great Lakes. The principal breeding range of this species is from North 

 Dakota and Manitoba northwestward through the Saskatchewan region, 

 but it has bred as far east as the St Clair flats. Its chief winter range is 

 from Chesapeake bay along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to Texas. 

 This is the American representative of the Pochard. It is a fine duck for 

 the table when in good condition and after feeding on wild celery for some 

 time it is not second even to the Canvasback. In the spring and less 

 commonly in the fall, the male utters a peculiar qua-quaq, at the same 

 time throwing his head far backward toward his tail. The female quacks 

 like a hoarse or half choked Black dvick. 



Marila vallisneria (Wilson) 



(Aythya vallisneria on plate) 



Canvasback 



P::ite 16 



Anas vallisneria Wilson. Am. Orn. 1814. 8:103 



Fuligula vallisneria DeKay. Zool. N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 321, fig. 256 



Aythya vallisneria A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 2. 1895. No. 147 



vallisne'ria, "wild celery," the favorite food of this duck 



Description. Male: Head and neck reddish chestnut; the crown, 

 forefacc and chin strongly tinged with sooty; lower neck and foreparts of 



