DENDEOCTCNA. 205 



ITab. North America, southern border of the United States (Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, 

 California), casual in North Carolina and Missouri^. — Mkxico {Wagler^), Mayo 

 and Yaqui Rivers, Sonora, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, San Bias, Tepic (Grayson^), El 

 Salto, San Luis Potosi (Eichardson^), city of Mexico (mus. nostr.^), Valley of 

 Mexico (Ilerrera^"^). — South America, Venezuela 9, Peru 9, Argentine Republic ^j 

 Tropical Africa and Madagascar ^ ; Indian Peninsula and Burmese Provinces ^. 



The Fulvous Tree-Duck, so named from its habit of settling in trees, is found in the 

 Southern United States, where it is one of the latest birds to breed. It also nests in 

 Sinaloa and Sonora, according to Grayson, who believed that two or more broods were 

 reared in a season, as in November, near San Bias, he found young birds unable to fly. 

 The species arrives in the Mazatlan district in October, and has been noticed passing 

 over that place on its northern migration in April. 



In Mexico D.fuha is entirely a freshwater Duck, inhabiting the " tierra caliente" 

 near the sea-coast, but is never met with on the sea, and very seldom on the esteros or 

 salt-water lagoons. 



This Duck is very active and equally at home on the water or on the banks of 

 streams ; on land, when wounded, it is often able to escape the hunter by running and 

 liiding in the grass and bushes, while on the water the bird saves itself by diving when 

 closely pursued. The food consists chiefly of the seeds of grasses and weeds, though 

 it is frequently supplemented by grain obtained in the corn-flelds. 



Grayson was informed by the natives that the nest was placed on the ground ; but 

 this was doubtless a mistake, as in other parts of this Tree-Duck's range it is built of 

 sticks and grass, either on a branch or in the hollow of a tree, like those of other 

 species oi Bendrocycna. The eggs are white. 



2. Dendrocycna autumnalis. 



Arias autumnalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 205 \ 



Dendrocygna autumnalis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 360'; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 231'; P. Z. S. 



1864, p. 372*; 1876, p. 373'; Salv. Ibis, 1865, p. 193°; 1889, p. 377^; 1890,p. Sg"; 



Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 530'; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 197"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. 



N. York, viii. p. 13 " ; Mem. Best. Soc. Nat, Hist. ii. p. 313 " ; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, 



p. 50"; V. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 379"; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 44>'; Sumichr. 



La Nat. v. p. 234 '" ; Richm. Pr. XJ. S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 531 " ; A. O. U. Check-1. N. 



Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 64'" ; Underw. Ibis, 1896, p. 450 ". 

 Dendrocycna autumnalis, Nutting, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. v. p. 408"°; vi. pp. 380", 390"; Baird, 



Brewer, & Ridgw. Water-Birds N. Amer. i. p. 481 '" ; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. 



p. 159"; Festa, Boll. Mus. Zool. Torino, xiv. no. 339, p. 13". 



Supra castanea; tectricibus alarum minoribus flavescenti-olivaceis, medianis cineraceis, majoribus et tectricibus 



primariorum grisescenti-albis ; remigibus nigris, basia versus albis; rectrioibus nigris; pileo rufescenti- 



brunneo, antice pallidiore, nucham versus nigricante ; coUo postico longit.udinaHter nigro ; capitis lateribus 



etcollo'summogrisescenti-fulvis; coUo reliquo castaneo, dorso concolore; uropygio et supracaudalibus. 



