Duck-shooting 137 



ing each other in the same precise line. The 

 shooting is constant, and the gun grows hot ; but 

 pick up your birds quickly, and don't waste time, 

 for the flight is thick and fast, but short, and 

 broadbill do not make mistakes often. 



This bird is highly prized by gunners of the 

 eastern coast, and when vegetable matter and the 

 various grasses found on the flats and bars com- 

 prise its diet, the flesh is excellent. Often the 

 food consists of barnacles and Crustacea, which 

 impart a slightly fishy flavor to the flesh. 



This species is also known as greater scaup 

 duck and bluebill. 



LESSER SCAUP DUCK 

 (Ayihya affinis) 



Adult male — Head, neck, and front of body, black, with metallic 

 purple reflections on head; back and scapulars, white, barred 

 with narrow black lines ; wing-coverts, dusky, mottled with 

 white ; speculum, white ; rump and upper tail-coverts, black ; 

 breast and abdomen, white ; sides, white, marked with dusky ; 

 tail, black ; bill, slate ; nail, black ; legs and feet, slate ; webs, 

 black ; iris, yellow. 



Measurements — Length, 1 6 inches; wing, 8 inches; tail, 3 inches; 

 tarsus, 1.30 inches; culmen, 1.70 inches. 



Adult female — Space at base of bill, white ; rest of head and neck, 

 brown ; upper back and breast, umber-brown ; wings, dark 

 brown ; speculum, white ; under parts, white ; rump and upper 

 tail-coverts, dark brown; bill and feet, slate; webs, dusky; 

 iris, yellow. 



Measurements — Similar to male. 



Downy young — Upper parts, dark brown, with buff spots on side of 

 back and rump ; lower parts, buff; forehead and side of head, 



