484 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



Colouel Grayson's acquaintance possessed a jiair 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. G. Merrill writes me that 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 maizal, or Cornfield Duck, from its habit of frequenting those localities. It 

 is by no means shy^ and large numbers are offered for sale in the Brownsville market. 

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

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

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

 had had ample opi^ortunity of observing these birds at Hidalgo, informed Dr. Merrill 

 that the eggs are deposited in hollow trees and branches, often at the considerable 

 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 carries the young to water in her 

 bill. Twelve eggs received from Dr. Finley average 2.11 inches by 1.53, 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 dej^art 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 fulva 



THE FULVOUS-BELLIED TBEE DUCK. 



Penelope inexicana, Bri.ss. Orn. VI. 1760, 390 (Mexico). 



Anas fulva, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 530 (ex Binss. 1. c). 



Dendrocygna fulva, Burm. Eeise La Plata, 1856, 51."). — Baikd, B. N. Am. 1858, 770; ed. 1860, 

 pi. 60 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 575. — CouEs, Key, 1872, 284 ; Check List, 1873, no. 486 ; 

 2d ed. 1882, uo. 705 ; B. N. W. 1874, 558. 



Dendrocycna fulva, Eiugw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1S81, no. 600. 



Jiias virgata. Max. Reise Bras. I. 1820, 322. 



Palo roxo y negro, AzAKA, Apunt. III. 1805, no. 436. 



Anas bicolor, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. V. 136 (ex Azara. 1. c). 



Anas collaris, MF.rREM, in Erscli u. Gnili. Enc. Scl. i. Vol. XXXV. 31. 



I Dendrocygna 7i)ajor, Jerdon, Birds India, III. 7!I0 (India!). — Scl. P. Z. S. 1866, 148 (Madagas- 

 car !). 



Hab. Southern border of the United States, north to Central Cahl'ornia and Western Nevada 

 (Washoe Lake), east to Loiusiana. Mexico; Southern South America. India? Madagascar? Not 

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



Sp. Char. Adult: Head, neck, and lower parts deep reddish ochraceous, passing into cinna- 

 mon on the flanks, where the longer feathers have a broad medial stripe of pale ochraceous, bor- 

 dered by dusky. Crown inclining to ferruginous ; nape with a distinct black stripe, commencing 

 at the occiput. Middle of the neck dirty whitish, minutely streaked with dusky, beneath the sur- 

 face. Prevailing color aljove brownish Iilack, the dorsal and scapidar feathers broadly tipped with 

 the color of the lower p.arts ; lesser wing-coverts tinged with rusty chestnut. Upper tail-coverts 

 immaculate white ; crissum yellowish white. Bill and feet black, in the dried skin ; in life, " bill 

 bluish black, legs light slaty blue" (Merrill). Sexes alike. Youiig not seen. 



