ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — iETHYIA. 



35 



-eminent 

 by iiiiiny 



('iUlVilS- 



irios with 

 ivo boi'ii 

 ale ; ami 



Whilf a 

 e, and in 



Bay anil 

 long ilio 

 rn lakes, 



and is paiticidaily numerous on Lake Koskonong, in Southern "Wiseonsin. In JIarch 

 I have seen the markets of Chieago well supplied with this Duek ; and although there 

 in no wise superior to the ^Mallard, the Tin-tail, the Teals, and other Ducks, yet 

 commanding twice the markct-prioe of any other species. 



The Canvas-back extends its migrations to Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. In New 

 Orleans it is called the Cinuird Chevul, and is nuu-h esteemed in that city for its 

 delicacy, though far inferior to birds of this species killed on the Chesapeake. It is 

 occasionally found in the markets of Charleston and Savannah ; but it is not there 

 esteemed so highly as are many other kinds. This Duck is also very abundant at 

 tiuu's near Galveston, Texas, where it feeds on the seeds of the wild oats, the water- 

 lily, and other plants, and is said to become delicious eating. 



Messrs. Lockhart and Kennicott have supplied interesting notes in relation to the 

 nesting of this Duck, which was found breeding on the Yukon in great numbers. 

 The eggs were from seven to ten in number, and inculjation began about the middle 

 of June. 



In Eastern Oregon, in the neighborhood of Lake Malheur and Camp Harney, 

 Cajitain Bendire found this an abundant species during itf migrations, and breeding 

 in the higher mountain valleys of the Blue Mountains, where he found it nesting on 

 Bear Creek, at an altitude of six thousand feet. In the spring and fall it frequents 

 the shallow portions of the lakes in immense flocks ; but its flesh is not so well 

 flavored as at the east. 



The Canvas-back was found breeding at Fort Resolution, as well as on the Yukon 

 Eiver, by ^Ir. Kennicott; on the Yukon also by Jlr. J. Lockhart; at F^ort Simpson 

 by Jlr. B. Ross ; at Fort Eae by Mr. L. Clarke ; at Fort Yukon by Mr. S. Jones ; 

 on Anderson Eiver by Air. AlacFarlane ; at Xulato by j\Ir. Dall ; at Sitka by Mr. 

 Bischoff ; and near the mouth of Frazer River by Mr. H. W. Elliott. 



ilr. Lockhart describes the nest of No. 27808 as being formed of rushes and g/ass, 

 in water, and built from the bottom, large and deep ; but less thickly lined with 

 down and feathers than the nests of Ducks usually are. It contained seven eggs. 

 All the nests found, with a single exception, resembled this one, and were sinularly 

 , situated. They are constrvicted gradually, as the Duck continues to lay, and are 

 , entirely finished when incubation begins. The excei)tion referred to was on the 

 ground in an open place, which liad been left dry as the river fell ; the nest in this 

 case was at the foot of a few small willows, and about twenty yards from the water. 

 It was built of down and feathers, and hail small sticks on the sides, but little or 

 nothing on the bottom. The feathers in the nest were gray, tipped with chestnut, 

 similar to those on the breast of the Canvas-back. This nest contained eight eggs. 



Mr. Kennicott describes nest Xo. GGfiO as built from the ground, in water a foot 

 deep, in the grassy edge of a lake. Tlu^ base was large, and formed of a pile of grass, 

 .; the nest proper being jdaced on top. The cavity was large, the sides well built up, 

 'and thoroughly lined with down. For the construction of tliis large base the bird had 

 ■pulled up or broken off all the dry grass within a yard or two of the nest, thus leav- 

 ing it in a clear place. The shell of the egg is remarkably hard and brittle. From 

 the same nest was taken a second lot of eggs, the female having again made use of 

 it. When first found, in June, it was not complete ; as anumg all the Ducks the nest 

 is not finished until incubation begins. 



Eggs of this species from Fort Yukon (Smithsonian Institution, Nos. OCcJO and 

 6GG0) are of a uniform pale grayish-green color. Four eggs have the fc [lowing 

 ;,^easurement3 : 2,50 by 1.80 inches; 2.56 by 1.75; 2.60 by 1.80; 2.10 by 1.75. 



