^0.1.] M'CHESNEY on birds of DAKOTA. 97 



Dafila ACUTA, (L.) Jenyns.— Pintail ; SpngtaU. 



Sexes are not alike in color. 



Tail with the middle feathers longest (female and young shorter and not so narrow), 

 4 to 9 inches long ; wing 11; total length about 24. Bill black and blue; feet gray- 

 ish-blue ; head and upjier neck dark brown, with green and purple gloss ; sides of 

 neck with' a long white stripe; lower neck and under parts white; dorsal line of neck 

 black, passing into the gray of the back, which, like the sides, is vermiculated Avith 

 black ; middle quill-markings greenish-purple, anteriorly bordered by buff tips of the 

 greater coverts, elsewhere by black and white ; inner quills and shoulders black and 

 silvery. 9 and young with the whole head and neck speckled or finely streaked with 

 dark brown and grayish or yellowish-brown; below, dusky-freckled; above, black- 

 ish, all the feathers pale-edged ; only a trace of the greenish markings between the 

 white or whitish tips of the greater coverts and middle quills. 



This Duck arrives April 8, and remains until October 22 ; breeds in 

 small numbers in this vicinity. In the early spring, as also during Sep- 

 tember and October, it is very abundant, but during the summer only 

 a few Pintails are seen here. 



Chaulelasmus steeperus, (L.) Gray. — Gadwall; Gray Buck. 



Sexes are not alike in color. 



$ with most of the plumage barred or half-ringed with black and white or whitish ; 

 middle wing-coverts chegtnut ; greater coverts black ; marking of middle quills white ; 

 $ known by these wing-marks : 19-22; wing 10-11. 



Is seen here from April 8 until October 22, in large numbers ; breeds 

 here. 



Mareca AMERICANA, (Gm.) Steph. — American Widgeon '^ Baldpate. 



Sexes are not alike in color. 



Head and neck grayish, dusky-speckled; top of head white (in full plumage), its sides 

 with a broad green j)atch. Bill shorter than head, grayish-blue like the feet ; fore 

 breast light brownish-red ; belly pure wliite ; under tail-coverts abruptly black, mid- 

 dle and greater coverts white, the latter black-tipped ; middle quill-markings green, 

 black-bordered : 20-22 ; wing 11 ; tail 5 ; bill l^-li. 2 known by the wing-markings. 



Enters this region about April 22, and the greater majority pass, in a 

 few days, further north ; it is probable, however, that a very few breed 

 in this vicinity, as I have taken this Duck on several occasions during 

 the summer months ; about the 1st of September, it begins to return 

 from the north, and by the middle of the month is very abundant j 

 finally departs October 30. 



The specimen measures as follows : 



No. 668, $, 33.75 X 20.50; wing 10.40; tail 5.00. 



QuERQUEDULA CAROLiNENSis, (Gm.) Steph. — Green-ivinged Teal. 



Sexes are not alike in color. 



Subcrested ; head and upper neck chestnut, with a broad glossy green band on each 

 side, whitish-bordered, uniting and blackening on back of neck ; under parts white,, 

 the fore breast with circular black spots ; upper parts and flanks closely waved with 

 blackish and white ; under tail-coverts black, varied with white or creamy ; bill black ; 

 feet gray. A conspicuous white crescent on the side of the body just in front of the 

 bend of the wing ; shoulders plain ; middle quill-marking rich green. No blue on the 

 wings. 2 differs especially m the head-markings, but those of the wings are the 

 same. Small : 14-15 ; wing 7^ ; tail 3| ; bill 1^. 



Arrives April 24, and remains a few days in this vicinity before pass- 

 Bull. V, 1 7 



