26 NORTH AMERICAN DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



Spring migration. — It is impossible to separate the migration rec- 

 ords of A. obscura and A. rubripes. The following migration notes 

 probably refer for the most part t > A . rubripes, because that form 

 winters farther north. In March extensive northward movements of 

 black ducks occur, but it is not until early April that* the birds pass 

 beyond the usual winter range. The average date of arrival for seven- 

 teen years in southern Maine is April 7; the earliest, March 19, 1894; 

 the average date for Montreal is April 14, and March 27, 1889, is the 

 earliest; Quebec, average, April 18 (earliest, April 6, 1896); Godbout, 

 Quebec, average, April 21; Prince Edward Island, April 23 (earliest, 

 April 5, 1898). Farther west the average date of arrival in southern 

 Ontario is April 7 (earliest, March 16, 1901); average at Ottawa, April 

 14 (earliest, March 21, 1903). 



Fall migration. — A black duck was seen at Washington, D. O, 

 August 1, 1887; one at Alexandria, Va., August 14, 1886, and one at 

 Hog Island, Va., August 20, 1886; but these are unusually early rec- 

 ords. The average of a long series of excellent records at Alexandria, 

 Va. , is September 30 for the arrival of the first and October 31 as the 

 average date when they become common. About the middle of Octo- 

 ber, on the New England coast, they become common enough to usher 

 in the shooting season. These dates, of course, apply to A. obscura. 

 There are no exact records of the time when A. rubripes arrives from 

 its northern breeding grounds, but it is supposed that it reaches New 

 England about the first week in October. In winter it remains as far 

 north as it can find open water. The average date when the last leave 

 Ottawa, Ontario, is November 7 (latest; November 21, 1892); average 

 at Montreal, November 6 (latest, November 14, 1896). The last one 

 was seen at Prince Edward Island November 13, 1889, and December 



8, 1890. 



Anas fulvigula Ridgw. Florida Duck. 



A nonmigratory species, breeding commonly in the southern half of 

 Florida, and less commonly in the northern portion. It seems to be 

 absent from northeastern Florida, but occurs along the northwestern 

 coast of the State. Nests in late April and in May, but sometimes 

 much earlier, for downy young have been taken as early as April 6. 



Anas fulvigula maculosa (Serm.). Mottled Duck. 



Resident in Texas and southern Louisiana (Lake Arthur). In Texas 

 it occurs from the mouth of the Rio Grande northward and west to about 

 the middle of the State. It is accidental in Kansas (Neosho Falls, 

 March 11, 1876). It breeds throughout most if not all of its Texas 

 range; the eggs are deposited in April. 



[Anas diazi Ridgw. Diaz Black Duck. 



A form of 'black duck' closely resembling Anas fuMgula. It is nonmigratory and 

 occurs in central Mexico from Chihuahua City to Tepic, Jalisco, Michoacan, the 

 Valley of Mexico, Puebla, and Tlaxcala.] 



