ANATID^ ~ FULIGULIN^ : SEA BUCKS. 



703 



E. of the Mississippi and along Atlantic Coast ; breeds in high latitudes, winters in U. 8. 

 One of the commonest market-ducks in eastern cities in winter, selling readUy for canvas- 

 back, and more likely to be distinguished 

 therefrom with the feathers on than off! 

 Nest on ground, or among reeds over water 

 like a coot's, down-lined. Eggs 7-8, buff, 

 2.25 X 1.70. 



Akistonetta. 



F. vallisne'ria. (Name of a genus of 

 aquatic plants, the wild celery, V. spiralis, dedicated to 

 Antonio VaUisneri, an Italian naturalist. Figs. 485, 489, 490.) 

 Cakvas-back. Adult $ : The head close-feathered. BUI 

 high at the base and narrow throughout or scarcely widened 

 toward end, sloping gradually up to the top of the head in line 

 with the sweep of the forehead, altogether somewhat like a 

 goose's in shape ; decidedly longer than head, 2-i- inches to 

 nearly or quite 3 in length, measured along the oulmen ; the 

 nostrils reaching the middle of the bill, their fore end half-way 

 from upper corner to end of bill. Bill not blue, black-belted, 

 but blackish throughout. Eyes red. Feet grayish-blue. 

 Head and upper neck not coppery brownish-red, but dark 

 reddish-brown, further much obscured with dusky or quite 

 blackish about the bUl and on top. Ground color of back 

 white, very finely vermiculated with zigzag blackish bars 

 much narrower than the intervening spaces, and tending to 

 break up, or mostly broken up, into little chains of dots across 

 the feathers; the resulting sUvery-gray tone consequently 

 several shades lighter than in the red-head. Other characters ^^ ^%^lm natare by''j° L. Eidg- 

 substantiaUy as in that species. 9 differs as ? red-head does; way.). 



head dark snuffy-brown, etc., but the bill is colored as in the $, and sufficiently preserves its 



peculiar shape ; eyes 

 reddish- brown. Size 

 of the red-head, or a 

 little larger ; tarsus 

 1 .75 ; bill longer, as 

 above ; culmen much 

 over 2 inches; gape 

 about 2.67 ; line from 

 upper corner to tip 

 nearly or quite 3.00, 

 of which distance the 

 nostrils reach half 

 way. N. Am. at 

 large ; breeds from 

 the northern tier of 

 States northward, in 

 the E. Mts. further 

 south, and in upper 

 California; winters in 

 the TJ. S. and south - 



— Canvas-back. (From Lewis.) 



