516 



J.AMEI.LIUOSTUAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



El 



Irii 



the Porcupine River, by ^Mr. Jones ; Fort Yukon, by Mr. J. S. Ibbiston and Mr. 

 Lockhart ; Anderson Kiver, Fort Anderson, tlie Lower Anderson, Rendezvous Lake, 

 the Rarreu (J rounds, etc., by Mr. MacFarlane ; Kadiak and Fort Kenai, by Mr, 

 Bischoff; and New Westminster, by Mr. H. W. Elliott. 



They are mentioned by Mr. Adams as the first Ducks to arrive — April 28 — in 

 Alaska (" Ibis," 1878), and the only fresh-water species there that vas numerous. 

 Tliey frequent all parts of tlie marslies in groujjs of three or four, are very wary, and 

 can only be procured by ambush in the lines of its flight. The nests were placed in 

 the rough grass of the marshes, and very carefully concealed; the eggs, nine in 

 number, were of a i)ale green, almost white. 



The eggs of this species are oval in shape, and of a pale grayish-green color. 

 Three eggs in the Smithsonian Collection (Xo. 4242), from St. George's Island, in St. 

 James's Bay, measui'e 2.30 by 1.55 inches ; 2.25 by 1.55 ; 2.20 by 1.55. 



Genus MARECA, Stephens. 



Marcca, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XII. ii. 1824, 130 (type, Aiuxs penelope, Lisn.). 



Char. Bill small, sliortcr than the head, rather narrow, the edges parallel to near the end, 

 where they gradually converge to a rounded tip ; culnien gently concave ; lamella) of tlie niaxillaj 

 almost concealed ; feet small, the tarsus aliout as long as the hill ; sexes very different in winter, 

 much alike in summer. Adult male in winter with the scapulars and tertials (in the North 

 American species the tail-coverts and rectrices also) lanceolate. 



Af. penelope. 



The three known species of Mareca (all American, but one peculiar to the southern continent) 

 may be distinguished as follows : — 



Com. Char, (adult males in winter dress). Forehead white ; posterior lialf of the middle wing- 

 covert regions white, forming a large patch of this color ; sides and flanks reddish ; abdomen 

 immaculate white ; speculum velvety black, with or without green. 



A. Speculum metallic green anteriorly ; juguluni plain pinkish vinaceous ; sides, flanks, scapu- 

 lars, and back, delicately undulated with dusky upon a lighter ground ; crissum black. 

 Tail-feathers acuminate, the middle pair projecting considerably beyond the rest. 

 1. M. penelope. Hear' and neck plain rufous, the forehead and part of the crown white ; 



