444 CHA I LELA SM US ST REFER VS. 



with a single discharge of a light gun which was merely loaded with a small charge of 

 dust shot. This occurred in early March and the birds were evidently gathering, prepara- 

 tory to migrating northward, for in a few days they had all disappeared. The Pintails 

 breed in the North and North-west. 



GENDS VI. CHAULELASMUS. THE GRAY DUCKS. 



GEN. On. Bill, about as long as head, not wide nor flattened, sliyhtly expanded at tip, but not swollen nor hiyh at base. 

 Leys, short. Neck, not very long. Marginal indentations, nearly closed in adult. 



The trachea is slightly dilated near the larynx, which in the male, is provided with a bony frame-work and is ex- 

 panded. Stomach, muscular. Sexes, not similar. There is but one species within our limits. 



CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS. 



Gadwall Duck. 

 Chaulelasmus streperus GRAY; 1838. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. COLOR. Adult mate. Ilead and neck, yellowish-white, becoming reddish on 

 crown find spotted with dusky. Lower neck, back, and upper breast, dark-brown, finely banded with white. Outer scnp- 

 ularies and sides, black, narrowly barred with white. Longest tertiaries, hoary, and inner scapularies. tinged with red- 

 dish. Middle wing coverts, chestnut; greater, black. Speculum, white, bordered externally with hoary, internally with 

 black. Flanks and upper tail coverts, black. Remainder of under portions, white, faintly banded on the ab-lomen with 

 brownish. Iris, reddish- brown; bill, black; feet, yellowish-green. 



Adult female. Dark brown throughout, tinged with ashy on head, neck, and greater wing coverts, streaked on first 

 two with yellowish, and with the feathers of body and tail broadly margined with reddish. Otherwise similar to male. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known in all stages by the white speculum, and colors as described. Distributed, in summer, throughout the 

 North-west and North; wintering in the South. Not common in New England. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 20'60; stretch, 33-00; wing, 9'00; tail, 3'50; bill, 

 3' 10; .tarsus, I'lO. Longestspecimen,2r75; greatest extent of wing, 35-00; longest wing, lO'OO; tail, -i'OO; bill, 2'20; tarsus, 

 1-80. Shortest specimen, 19 50; smallest extent of wing, 31-00; shortest wing, 8-00; tail, 3'00; bill, 2'00; tarsus, 164. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of sticks, weeds, etc. Eggs, six to ten hi number, elliptical 

 in form, and creamy-buff in color. Dimensions from I'45x2'00 to 1-50 x2'05. 



HABITS. 



The Gadwall is one of the most uncommon of all the Ducks which occur in New Eng- 

 land during the migrations, but is occasionally found in our markets in considerable num- 

 bers, being brought from the West, where it is common, and where it breeds. I have never 

 met with this Duck in Florida, nor elsewhere on the eastern coast of the United States. 

 The Gadwall resembles other members of the order in general habits. 



GENUS VII. MARECA. THE WIDGEONS. 



GEN. Cii, Bill, shorter than head, rather narrow, not flattened, widened at tip, swollen, nor hiyh at base. Neck and 

 legs, short. Marginal indentations, open. 



Trachea, not dilated, and the larynx in the male is expanded, and provided with a bony frame-work. Stomach, mus- 

 cular. Central tail feathers and under tail coverts, slightly lengthened. Sexes, not similar. There are two species with- 

 in our limits. 



MARECA AMERICANA. 



American Widgeon. 

 Mareca Americ-ma STEPH. Shaw's Zool. XII.; 1824, 135. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, riot very large. COLOR. Adult male. Head and neck all around, creamy-white, finely 

 spotted ami banded everywhere, excepting on crown, with dusky. Throat and broad band back of eye, nearly black, the 

 latter glossed with green. Lower neck, scapularies, sides, and upper breast, chestnut-red, tinged with ashy ; finely handed 



