l62 WATER FOWL. 



of its small relative, with a prefix denoting bigness ; thus, 

 in addition to those already given, it is called Big Black 

 Head, Big Scaup, Big Shuffler, Big Broad Bill ; also Salt- 

 Water Broad Biir (indicating its preference for the sea- 

 coasts), Bay Broad Bill, Gray Back, Black Neck, Dos 

 Gris in Louisiana, and various others, some of which are 

 purely local, and rarely heard. As a bird for the table 

 it is about on a par with the Little Scaup Duck, and, 

 when it has fed upon wild celery and other tender 

 grasses, its flesh is well-flavored, but if away from locali- 

 ties where these grasses are found, it is not very particu- 

 lar upon the quality of its diet, and often has a fishy and 

 rank flavor, not in any way desirable. I do not regard 

 it as common a species as many of the diving Ducks found 

 within our borders, and the days when I have met with 

 them, even in comparatively large numbers, have been 

 exceptional. For a long period its distinctness from the 

 Small Broad Bill was unknown, and for some time after 

 it was suggested that there were two species, both orni- 

 thologists and sportsmen were skeptical of the fact. 



FULIGULA M ARIL A. 



Geographical Distribution. — North America generally, south 

 to Guatemala. Also in Northern portion of Old "World to China. 

 Breeds in Alaska, and in the Arctic regions east of the mountains. 



Adult Male.— Head, neck, fore parts of back and chest, black, 

 with green reflections on head and neck. Lower back, rump, 

 upper and under tail coverts, also black. Middle of back, scapu- 

 lars, sides, flanks, and anal region, white, undulated with fine 

 black lines. Wing coverts, blackish, finely barred with white. 

 Speculum, white, bounded in front by a black line formed by the 

 tips of the greater coverts. Tertials, black, glossed with green; 

 some of the large ones vermiculated with white. Primaries, 

 dark brown, with black tips, and a grayish or whitish area on 

 inner webs. Tail, blackish brown. Belly, white. Bill, bluish 



