GREATER BLACK-HEAD. 449 



Adult female. General markings as in the mule, but with a white patch around eye, and InckH, in a great measure, 

 the bright colors and iridescence which arc replaced or obscured with ashy and brownish. Youny. Similar to adult fe- 

 male but the breast is streaked with whitish. The males, however, are brighter than the females. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known in all stages by the iridescent colors of wings as described. Distributed, in summer, throughout Temperate 

 Nortli America; wintering in the South. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, IS'OO; stretch, 29'00; wing, 9'00; tail, 4'12; bill, 

 1' 35; tarsus, 1'30. Longest specimen, 19'OU; greatest extent of wing, 29'75; longest wing, 9'60; tail. 4'25; bill, 1'SO; tarsus, 

 1'40. Shortest specimen, 17'OC; smallest extent of wing, 28-00; shortest wing, H-45; tail, 4'00; bill, 1'25; tarsus, 1-20 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in holes of trees, composed of grass, weeds, feathers, etc. Eggs, six to ten in number, elliptical in 

 form, and pale brown in color. Dimensions from roSxl'SSto r 1 "> x 1 li.~>. 



HABITS. 



The beautiful Wood Ducks are among the best known of all the species which resort 

 to our inland waters, for they are abundant in summer and breed from Maine to Florida, 

 and it is a singular fact, that the eggs are deposited in the latter named State in May and 

 June, nearly or quite as late as they are laid further north. The Wood Ducks almost in- 

 variably select a hole in a tree or stub in which to build, often some distance from the wa- 

 ter and occasionally at a considerable height from the ground, and when a pair of these 

 birds have selected a particular tree, they will return to it year after year. Mr. Will Per- 

 haui called my attention to a section of a hollow log which he had fastened in the fork of 

 a huge pine that stands near Tyng Pond, which he said was the nesting place of a certain 

 pair of these Ducks, and also stated that they had used it for several years. As the young 

 do not remain in the nest long after being hatched, they must be removed by the parents 

 and carried to the water. These elegant birds are easily tamed, and even when in a state 

 of nature, will readily associate with domesticated fowls, feeding with them through the 

 entire summer. In autumn, the Wood Ducks often visit the woods in search of chestnuts 

 and acorns. They migrate southward during October but occur in Florida all winter. 



GENUS XI. FULIGDLA. THE BAY DUCKS. 

 <II:N. Cii. Mill, lonyer than head, quite wide, somewhat flattened, and not expanded at lip. Marginal indentations, 



Ujllll. 



The trachea is straight and without any special dilatation. The larynx in males is expanded and provided witli a bony 

 frame- work. Stomach, muscular. Sexes, not similar. There are five species within our limits. 



PULIGULA MARILA. 

 Greater Black-head. 



Fulvjula marila STEPII., Shaw's Zool. XII; 1824, 197. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. COLOR. Adult male. Head, neck all around, upper parts, breast, sides, flank-, 

 and under tail coverts, black, glossed with green and violet on head, becoming slightly brownish around middle of neck, 

 finely banded with' white across back. Remainder of under part*, white, faintly banded with black on abdomen. Black 

 feathers of breast, slightly tipped with white, and those on shoulders are faintly spotted with it. Speculum, white. Bill, 

 blue, with nail and feet, black. Iris orange. Adult female. Similar, but the black is replaced by brown, and the barrings 

 above are faintly indicated. The sides are brown and there Is a whitish space around base of bill. Youny. Resemble the 

 adult female but arc more reddi-di above. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known from the following species by the large size and decidedly greenish gloss to head; and from all others, by the 

 broad blue bill and whiU 1 speculum. Distributed iu summer throughout Northern America; wintering from Massachu- 

 setts to the Carolina*. 



67 



