ANATIN^ - THE DUCKS - FULIX. 



19 





pcklcd villi 

 piuls, villi 

 wliito. 



The " Scaup Duck " of Great Britain — the " Blue-bill " of New England, the " Black- 

 head " of Long Island and Chesapeake Bay — is one of the most abundant and one of 

 the most widely distributed of its tribe. In North America it occurs on the Atlantic 

 coast the interior waters, and on the Pacific. In the latter it is found from Alaska 

 to Central America, in the interior from the Barren Grounds to the Gulf of Mexico, 

 and on the east from Greenland and Hud- 

 son's Bay to Florida and the West India 

 Islands. It is found throughout Europe 

 and Asia as far east as China and Japan. 

 It does not appear to move farther south 

 than the north shore of the Mediterranean, 

 and is more northern than most of the 

 fresh-water Ducks. 



Dr. Walker mentions having obtained 

 several specimens of this Duck near Godt- 

 haab, on the coast of Greenland, andl'rofes- 

 Bor Eeinhardt states that two adult males 

 and a female of this species were sent to 

 Denmark from Neuortalik in ISGo. Mr. 

 Boss met with this bird on Great Slave 

 Lake, and Captain Blakiston obtained S])cci- 

 niens of it on Hudson's Bay. In the terri- 

 tory of the Hudson's Bay Company, as Mr. 

 Kennicott states, it is known by the coija- 

 fft'iD's as the " Big Rail Duck " (Gi'os Canard 

 d' Automne). It was rather rare on the 

 Yukon, but more common about the Slave 

 Lake. Although abundant on the west 

 coast, the main body appears to pass to the 

 northeastward, although not going so far 

 feast as the Dusky Duck and the Red-head. 

 It was supposed by Mr. Kennicott to breed 

 more toward Hudson's Bay ; and he found 



its general habits to be very similar to those of the Fnlir affinls, with which it asso- 

 ciates. It was ascertained to be abundant at Sitka, where it was ubtaiui'd by Mr. 

 Bischoff. !Mr. Dall found it common on the Lower Yukon and on the sea-coast, 

 *rhere it was one of the first of the Ducks to arrive in the spring ; and he obtained 

 its eggs near the mouth of the Yukon in the early part of June. He speaks of its 

 liest as being very rude — a mere excavation, with a few straws about it — and of tiie 

 kird as usually tough and lean, and but poor eating. This Duck was found by Mr. 

 %. Browne on the coast of Vancouver Island, and Bichardson states that it breeds 

 ia. all parts of the Fur Countries, from the oOth parallel to the most northern 

 Itniits. 



:; According to Dr. Cooper, this Duck, variously known as the " Broad-bill," the 

 •f Blue-bill," and the "Slmffler," is common during the winter along the eiitirts coast 

 0i California, frequenting the salt bays and creeks, and occasionally going a short 

 itance up the more open rivers, in fresh water. It is said to feed on small shell- 

 ih, Crustacea, etc., for which it dives a good deal in very deep water, both by niglit 

 id day. Its stay in California is from October until A])ril, when it leaves for tlie 

 ■Arctic Regions to breed. It utters a grunting noise, and occusionally a guttural (luack. 



Male. 



