206 ANATID^. 



cum abdomine, hypochondriis, axillaribus et subalaribus nigris ; crisso albo, nigro maculate : rostro 



corallino, culmine auraniiaco, uugue apicali cieruleseeiite ; pedibus roseo-albis ; iride brunnea. Long. 



tota circa 19-0, alae 97, caudse 3-0, culm. 2-2, tarsi 2-6. (Descr. maris adulti ex Jalapa. Mus. nostr.) 

 $ mari similis, sed pauUo minor. Long, tota circa 19-0, alae 2-2, caudae 3-0, culm. 1-9, tarei 2-25. (Descr. 



feminse adult ae ex Tampico. Mus. nostr.) 

 Juv. adultis simiUs, sed sordidins colorata, sordide cinerascens ferrugineo tincta, nee rufescenti-brunnea ; 



abdomine et hypochondriis cinerascenti-albis, fuseo transfasciatis : rostro et pedibus fuscis. 



Hab. NoETH America, south-western border of the United States i^. — Mexico, both 

 coasts i«, Tapanais (Sumichrast), Presidio de Mazatlan {Forrer^*), Mazatlan 

 {Grayson, Bkchoff^^), Tamaulipas (Bichardson^*, £erlandier^% Jalapa (Ferrari- 

 Perez ^^Yega. del Casadero, Vera Cruz (Tri^illo '-^^ Cozumel 1. [Gaumer'^ ^) ; 

 GuATEMAL.i (Constancia^), Acapam^, Huamachal ^^ (0. S.); HondueasS, Lake of 

 Yojoa {Taylor ^^); Nicaeagua, Sucuya^a, San Juan del Sur^i (Nutting); Costa 

 EiCA^, Guanacaste {v. Frantzius^^ Cartago {Boucard^% Rio Frio, Rio Escondido 

 {Bichmond i^), between Bebedero and Miravalles ( Underwood ^^), La Palma 

 (Nutting 20), Nicoya (ArcS 2*) ; Panama (M'Leannan * ^ n, Festa ^% Lion Hill 

 (M'Leannan^^), Agua Dulce (mus. wos^r. 2*).— Colombia, Rio Traando (Wood 1°); 

 West Indies ^^. 



This species is larger than D. fulva, and is distinguished by the black spots on the 

 vent ; the chestnut mantle is also a recognizable character. It has a wider distribution 

 in Central America than the Fulvous Tree-Duck, occurring firom the Rio Grande Valley 

 in Texas throughout Central America from Mexico to Panama, and breeding at 

 Mazatlan i^, where it is found throughout the year, and also at Tamaulipas ^3. ' 



Grayson has given a good account of D. autumnalis as observed by him in Western 

 Mexico. He says that the Black-bellied Tree-Duck resembles H. fulva, but is more 

 nocturnal in its habits, visiting the corn-fields during the night in great numbers. This 

 Duck not only perches on trees, but also on the corn-stalks when feeding on the grain. 

 Their peculiar whistle of "Pe-che-che-ne" has gained for them the name of "Whistling- 

 Duck." In confinement they become very tame, and are as useful as a watch-dog, 

 uttering their shrill cry at night on the slightest alarm. 



In the winter season it is usually found in large numbers together, and we noticed 

 several flocks on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, and at least a thousand were seen by 

 Mr. Richmond on a flooded piece of land near the Rio Frio in Costa Rica^'^. A 

 nestling from Agua Dulce in our collection shows that the species breeds in the State 

 of Panama. 



The nest is built in the hollow of a large tree, and from twelve to fifteen eggs are 

 laid, according to Grayson, who also states that the young are brought to the ground, 

 one at a time, in the mouth of the female bird, and, after being safely def>osited, are 

 cautiously led by her to the nearest water. 



