240- WATER FOWL. 



Ducks of extended reputation. This idea has been 

 taken advantage of by the market men, and a pair of 

 this small inferior Duck bring as high a price as Red 

 Heads did a few years ago. While affording a fair dish, 

 if properly broiled, there is nothing in the flesh of this 

 bird to merit any particular commendation. Its food 

 usually consists of various grasses, roots, and leaves of 

 plants, and possibly at times it may vary its diet with mol- 

 lusca of diflferent kinds. Being a diving Duck, it obtains 

 the articles for its bill of fare from ofif the bottom. 



ERISMATURA JAMAICENSIS. 



Geographical Distribution. — North America generally, ex- 

 cept Alaska. South to the West Indies and Colombia. Breeds 

 throughout the greater part of its range, from Hudson Bay to 

 Guatemala. 



Adult Male in Full Plumage. — Upper part of head, including 

 the eye and nape, glossy jet black. Sides of head and chin, 

 white. Throat and all the neck, back, upper tail coverts, scapu- 

 lars, and flanks, bright reddish chestnut. Wing coverts, lower 

 back and rump, grayish brown. Primaries, dull brown, speckled 

 near edge of outer web with gray. Tail, brownish black. 

 Under parts below the upper part of breast, silvery white, which 

 is the hue of the tips of the feathers only, the hidden portion 

 being brownish gray. Sometimes these tips wear away, and 

 then the under surface appears mottled. The breast is tinged 

 with rust color; this in some specimens appearing also on the 

 abdomen. Under tail coverts, white. Bill and eyelids, grayish 

 blue. Iris, hazel. Legs and feet, grayish blue; webs, dusky. 

 Total length, about i6 inches; wing, 6; culmen, i^; tarsus, i^. 



Adult Female. — Upper half of head, including the eyes, dark 

 brown; in some individuals there are blackish feathers, tipped 

 with reddish chestnut. Cheeks, brown, but lighter than top of 

 head. A white stripe from below the eye, sometimes distin- 

 guishable almost to base of bill, goes to the nape. Chin, white. 

 Throat and neck, brownish gray; tips of feathers on lower neck 

 in front, white. Upper parts, dusky brown, mottled and speckled 

 with grayish buff. Lower parts, silvery white, this hue produced 



