I 



484 



LAMKLLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



Colonel Grayson's acquaintance possessed a ])air of these Ducks, which she said 

 were as good as the best watch-dog ; he himself had a pair which were equally 

 vigilant, and very docile. 



Dr. J. C. jMerrill writes me tliat this large and handsome Duck arrives from the 

 South, in the vicinity of Fort Brown, in April, and soon thereafter becomes abundant 

 on the river-banks and lagoons. Migrating at night, it continually utters a very 

 peculiar chattering whistle, which at once indicates its presence. The Mexicans call 

 it Pato mah:al, or Corntield Duck, from its habit of frecpienting those localities. It 

 is \)y no means shy, and large nund)ers are offered for sale in the Brownsville market. 

 It is easily domesticated, and beccnnes very tame, roosting at night in the trees with 

 the Chickens and Turkeys. AVhen the females begin to lay, the males leave them 

 and gather in large Hocks on sandliars in the river. Dr. S. M. Finley, U. S. A., who 

 had had ample opportunity of observing these birds at Hidalgo, informed Dr. Merrill 

 that the eggs are deposited in hollo\v trees and branches, often at the consideralile 

 distance of two miles or more from water, and from eight to thirty feet above the 

 ground. They are placed on the bare wood, and are from twelve to sixteen in number. 

 Two broods are raised in a season, and the parent carj ies the young to water in her 

 bill. Twelvt! eggs received from Dr. Finley average LMl inches by 1.58, with but 

 little variation in size ; they are of the usual Duck-shape, and in color are a rather 

 clear yellowish white. The birds usually depart in September, but a few very late 

 broods are seen even in November. 



The eggs of this species from the Berlandier Collection, from Tamaulipas, Mexico 

 (Smithsonian Institution, No. 743), are of an ivory-white color, with a greenish 

 tinge. In their shape they are of a rounded oval. Three eggs have the following 

 measurements : 2.00 by 1.50 inches ; 2.30 by l.GO ; 2.10 by 1.60. 



Dendrocycna fiilva. 



THE FULVOUS-BELLIED TREE DUCK. 



Penelope mexicnna, Bltlss. Oni. VI. 17()0, 390 (Mexico). 



Anas /iclva, Gmkl. S. X. I. ii. 1788, .''.30 {ex P,uiss. 1. c). 



Bendrocygna fit/va, Brr.M. lirise La I'lutii, 1856, 51,"). — Bairb, B. N. Am. 1858, 770; ed. 1860, 

 I>1 dO ; Cat. N. Am. H. 1S59, no. 575. —Coves, Key, 1872, 284 ; Clieck List, 1873, no. 486; 

 2d ed. 1882, no. 705 ; B. X. W. 1874, 558. 



Dendroi'ijcna fu/vn, I{ii><!\v. Xom. X, Am. B. 1881, no. 600. 



A)ws vinjnta, 5L\.x. Iteise Briis. L 1820, 3'22. 



Pato roxo ij nrrjrn, AzAKA, Apunt. IIL 1805, no. 430. 



Anas hicolor, Vikim,. Xouv. Diet. V. 136 (o.\ Azaha, 1. v.). 



Anas eoUaris, Mf.pukm, in Krseh u. Orul). Ene. Sel. i. Vol. XXXV. 31. 



} Bendrocygna major, Jeiidon, Birds India, III. 790 (India !). —Sci,. P. Z. S. 1866, 148 (Madagas- 

 car !), 



Hab. Southern border of the United States, north to Central Ciililbrniu and Western Nevada 

 (Washoe Lake), east to Louisiana. Me.xieo; Soutliern South America. India? Mada;,'ascar ? Not 

 recorded from Northern South America (except Trinidad), Central America, or the West Indies. 



Sp. Char. Adidt : Head, neck, and lower parts deep reddisli oclu-aceous, passing into cinna- 

 mon on the flanks, where the longer featliers liave a broad medial slvip(> of pale ochraceous, bor- 

 dered bj' dusky. Crown inclining to I'erruginous ; nape with a distinct black stripe, connnencing 

 at the occiput. Middle of tlie neck dirty whitisli, minutely streaked with du.sky, beneath the sur- 

 face. Prevailing color above brownish black, the dorsal and scapular leathers broadly tipped with 

 the color of the lower parts ; k-sscr wing-coverts tinged with rusty chestnut. Upper tail-coverts 

 immaculate M'hite ; crissum yellowisii white. Bill and feet black, in the dried skin ; in life, " bill 

 bluish black, legs light .slaty blue" (Merrim,). Sexes alike. Young not seen. 



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