AXATIN.K — TIIK Dl'CKS - vKTIIYIA. 



31 



Tlie far-famed Canvas-back J)ii(k is an exclusively North American species. 

 (MoHcly resemblini,', in ai)i)earance, liabita, and in very many of its j,m'i>''1'ii1 character- 

 istics, the Pochard of Kurope and the Ued-head of America, it is -still (inite distinct 

 from, and superior to, both these si)ecies in the reputation and the intrinsic excel- 

 lence of its rtesli. It is found throu},'hout North America, from the Arctic Oceiin to 

 Central America, on the interior waters, and on both shores. It is not founil on 

 either shore of the more 

 northern i)ortions of the 

 continent, uidess as an ex- 

 ceptional occurrence. It 

 1 a'ceds on the interior ponds, 

 rivers, and lakes, from Ore- 

 gon to the njoro extreme 

 northern portions of the 

 continent. 



Only a single specimen 

 was obtained by Mr. Salvia 

 from tlu^ Lake of Duenas, 

 in Guatemala. Mr. Dresser 

 met with it in Texas — kill- 

 ing two on the Nueces, and 

 seeing others on Turkey 

 Creek. 



Jlr. Dall speaks of it as 

 occurring at Fort Yukon, 

 where it was breeding in 

 al)undance ; but none were 

 seen on the Yukon IJiver 

 to the southwest of that 

 point, nor is there any evi- 

 dence that this species is 

 known on the I'acitic coast 

 north of Vancouver Island, 

 where its presence was no- 

 ticed by Mr. 11. Browne. 



According to Dr. Cooper 

 this Duck is very common 



along the P.acific coast, wintering from Tuget Sound to San Diego. It is also found 

 on the interior rivers, being quite abundant along the Colorado at that season, 

 arriving in October and remaining until April, when it departs for its northern 

 breeding-places. Dr. Newberry found it more abundant than any other Duck in the 

 lakes and streams of the Cascade Kange, in whose deep solitudes he obtained sat- 

 isfactory evidence that this bird nests, and rears its young, as he frequently met with 

 broods of this Duck. 



The Valliinerla, on which plant the Canvas-back feeds in the Chesapeake and 

 other waters east of the mountains, is not found on the Pacific coast ; and this spe- 

 cies, lieing there obliged to live on grass, seeds, and the other usual food of the Duck 

 family, is not considered superior to the Mallard, or even as good as that bird. 

 The Canvas-backs assemble in great flocks in the bays, especially at night ; they sleep 

 on the open water, at which time many are shot by the hunters, who puvsue them in 



Male. 



