ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — FULIX. 



21 



roosting on the marshes or meadows; and they readily discover the best feeding- 

 grounds. 



When in good condition this Duck is very highly esteemed for the table. Tn flying 

 it rarely utters any note, but when swimming leisurely about in calm Aveather it is 

 said to give utterance to a quick rattling or rolling sound. In its migrations its fliglit 

 is high and rapid. It is common in the winter on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and 

 tlieiv tributaries. 



In Chesajjeake IJay, wlien? it is very abundant, it is more generally known as the 

 " Hlack-head," and in Virginia it is called the ■' Kaft Duck." A writer in "Doughty's 

 Cal)inet " (I. 4i) says the Black-heads arrive on the Chesapeake about the last of 

 October, and rapidly distribute themselves over the Bay. This is one of the very few 

 Ducks that are able t(j dive and pull up by the roots the VaUisneria plants on wliich 

 it feeds. Other Ducks share in the spoils, especially the IJaldpate, Avhich, though of 

 inferior size, is able, by its address and boldness, to rob both tliis species and the 

 Canvas-back of the fruits of their labors. On the Chesapeake, where the Blue-bill 

 feeds exclusively on the Vdllisnvt'ui or other aquatic plants, it becomes very fat. Its 

 flesh is tender and juicy, and entirely free from the strong fishy taste acquired in 

 other localities. This bird feeds chiefly by night. 



According to Yarrell, the Scaup Duck is a very late winter visitor to Great Britain, 

 seldcm appearing until the beginning of November, and arriving, in small flocks, on 

 various parts of the coast, and at the mouths of river.s, but rarely visiting iidand 

 waters. It prefers low flat muddy shores, where it is jiursued by the wild-fowl 

 sliooters in gun-punts, and is occasionally caught by fishermen in upright nets, fixed 

 in curving lines on stakes in shallow bays. It feeds on small fish, molluscta, a(iuatic 

 insects, and marine plants, and is not in recpiest for the table, as its flesh becomes 

 coarse, dark in color, and fishy in flavor. Being very expert in diving, it obtains the 

 greati'r part of its food in this way. It rises slowly from the surface of the water, 

 and usually against the wind, and flies at a moderate speed. 



Colonel Montague kept Ducks of tliis species in confinement many years. Thej' 

 held apart from the other Ducks, and both sexes made the same grunting noise, and 

 had the same singular toss of the head, in performing which they at the same time 

 oi)en the bill. 



In spring this Duck departs to coiuitries north of the Orkneys to breed, and there 

 is only a singh^ instance recorded of its breeding in Scotland. This was in Suther- 

 landshire, in June, 1834, and was observed by Sir W. Jardiue. 



Mr. I'roctor, who found this bird breeding in Iceland, states that it lays its eggs 

 either among the aquatic herbage or the large stones near the edge of fresh water, 

 making little or no nest. A (juantity of down usually covers tlu; eggs, which are 

 from five to eight in number. An egg brought from Iceland by Jlr. Proctor is 

 describtid by Yarrell as being of a uniform clay-brown color, 2.37 inches in lengtli 

 by 1.<»3 in breadth. 



This s])ecies was found breeding on tlie Yukon lliver by ^Ir. J. Lockhart; on Big 

 island in Slave Lake by Mv. J. Reid; at Fort Rae by :\Ir. L. Clarke ; at Lake Winni- 

 peg by Mr. Donald Gunn ; at Bastolik, Kutleet, Xulato, and on the Island of St. 

 Idichael's by Mr. Dall ; and at Sitka by Mr. F. BischofT. 



Eggs in the Smithsonian Collection from the Yukon (Xo. (>(»17) are of a ijale 

 Olive-gray, varying in length from 2.5.") to 2.()() inches, and have an average breadth 

 j^of 1.70 inches. 



