FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



287 



12. Canvas-back (147. Aythya vallisnhria). — A large, chest- 

 nut-headed, black-breasted duck, with the back, wings, and 

 lower belly appear- 

 ing like canvas, with 

 fine wavy cross lines 

 of black and white, 

 the white lines wider. 

 Female, with the 

 whole head and neck 

 somewhat of a choc- 

 olate or cinnamon 

 color, and the back 

 grayish-brown barred 

 with white, wavy 

 cross lines. Belly 

 whitish. This spe- 

 cies has the name 

 among epicures of 

 being the best of all 

 game ducks. Be- 

 cause of its destruction for food purposes, it is becoming 

 scarcer each year. The species, 11-16, are somewhat interme- 

 diate between river and sea ducks, and are more frequently 

 found on rivers and bays than on open seas ; when on shallow 

 waters they merely "tip up " in feeding. 



Length, 20-24 ; wing, 9 (Sf-QJ) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, ^. 

 North America ; breeding from the northwestern states northward, and 

 wintering from the Middle States to Cuba and Mexico. 



13. American Scaup Duck (148. Aythya marlla nearctica). — ■ 

 A large, common, black-headed, " canvas "-backed black- 

 breasted, black-tailed duck, with white speculum and belly; 

 the head shows, in proper light, greenish reflections. The back, 

 sides, and lower belly are covered with many black and white 

 wavy cross-bars. The female is mainly umber-brown colored, 

 with a white speculum, belly, and band around base of bill ; 

 the back and sides are generally waved with white bars. The 



CanTas-baok 



