377 



FULIX MABILLA (BAIRD). 



THE SCAUP DUCK : BLUEBILL, 



Specific Character. Head, neck, and jugulum black, the first with a greenish 

 gloss ; back and scapulars white, irregularly undulated with zigzag lines of black 

 wing coverts dusky finely grizzled with grayish white ; secondaries white tipped, 

 and sometimes narrowly edged with black ; tertials black with very faint bottle 

 green reflections ; primary coverts dusky black ; primaries similar but the inner 

 quills pale grayish on the outer webs, except at ends the gray growing white on 

 the shorter feathers ; rump, upper tail coverts, tail, and crissum, dull black. 

 Lower parts between the jugulum and crissum white, the posterior portion and 

 sometimes the sides and flank zigzagged with dusky. Bill pale blue or bluish 

 white, in life the nail black ; iris bright yellow; legs and feet pale slate. 



Female. Head and neck sepia brown, the anterior portion of the former all 

 round the base of the bill white ; jugulum, anal region, and crissum, pale gray- 

 ish brown fading gradually into the white of the breast and abdomen ; sides and 

 flanks deeper brown ; above brownish dusky, the back and scapulars but faintly 

 if at all grizzled with white ; wings much as in the male. 



Total length about 18 to 20 inches ; extent, 29.50 to 35.50 ; wing, 8.50 ; cul- 

 men 1.85 ; tarsus, 1.50; middle toe, 2.30. 



Habitat. Entire Northern Hemisphere ; in America breeding far north. 



The Bluebill is a very widely distributed species being found not only 

 throughout the whole of North America, but also throughout Europe and Asia, 

 as far east as China and Japan. It breeds in the Arctic regions passing through 

 Ontario in April, loitering on its way for a week or two until well into May, 

 when they nearly all disappear. Some few pairs, however, stay and breed in 

 southern Ontario. It has been known to breed at the St. Glair Flats, and on the 

 Grand River, and probably in other places as far south. In the month of Octo- 

 ber and November it often collects in large flocks on its way south staying in 

 Ontario waters until frozen out. It is much hunted on account of its size and 

 fair fitness for the table. It obtains the principal part of its food by diving in 

 deep water for the roots of various plants. In Ontario H is not nearly so plenti- 

 ful as formerly. 



