116 BIRD NAMES. [N T o. 32. 



part of body. While the wings are closed (tightly closed) the 

 white of the secondaries is not visible, and the white edging to 

 the wings is not easily discerned. Bill of adult white, though 

 with three dusky spots forming an incomplete band about it 

 near tip. The bill is continued backward upon the forehead 

 by a thick gristly chestnut colored skin. This continuation, 

 or " frontal plate," is easily indented by the nail, in freshly 

 killed specimens, or moved about upon the bony structure which 

 it covers. Bill of young bird dusky flesh-color tinged greenish 

 towards the tip ; the " frontal plate " but partially developed. 

 Eyes carmine red. Legs yellowish green, or slate color with 

 greenish tinge, and dark or inky about the joints. Toes fur- 

 nished with broadly scalloped membrane. 



Length fourteen to sixteen inches ; extent twenty-four to 

 twenty-eight inches. 



A good swimmer, looking very duck-like on the water. 



Weight of freshly killed adult in hand at this writing, twenty- 

 one ounces. 



Range, North America, from Greenland and Alaska to Cen- 

 tral America. 



Though this species cannot be regarded as particularly in- 

 teresting to sportsmen, yet it is too intimately associated with 

 duck and rail shooting to be omitted from the list. Its flesh 

 has certainly not a good reputation with the community at 

 large, though champions may be found for almost any variety. 

 I have, for instance, heard the market-gunners and hucksters at 

 Norfolk, Va., very loud in their praises of this bird ; some in- 

 deed declaring it superior to Canvas-back. But, though this 

 latter duck is usually much overrated, it brings the marketman 

 too good a price to be often tested at his table. At Wilming- 

 ton, N. C, they say that the present species is peculiarly deli- 

 cious after having fattened upon the rice fields, and we all know 

 how very much the food of a bird has to do with its quality. 

 We should be thankful that when from want of better sport 

 we slaughter fowl of this kind, people may be found ready 

 and willing to relieve our bags and consciences. 



