CANVAS-BACK — AMERICAN SOAUP DUCK. 79 



AYTHYA VALLISNERIA (Wils.). 

 -tT. Canvas-back. (147) 



Similar to the preceding, but bill blackish, high at the base and narrow 

 throughout, not shorter than head (two and a half or more), the nostrils at its 

 middle ; head, much obscured with dusky ; black waved lines of the back sparse 

 and broken up into dots, the whitish thus predominating. 



Hab. — Nearly all of North America, breeding from the north-western States 

 northward to Alaska. Breeds in the North-West. 



Nest, on the ground, of grass and weeds lined with feathers. 



Eggs, six to ten, pale greenish-buff. 



The Canvas-back occurs with us, occasionally, in limited numbers. 

 It resembles the Redhead in many respects, but can readily be dis- 

 tinguished by its low forehead and by the sooty color of the head and 

 upper part of the neck. Its mode of diving is also peculiar. Before 

 going under the water it throws itself upward and forward, "describing 

 a curve as if seeking to gain impetus in the descent, just as boys 

 sometimes do when taking a header oif a point not much above the 

 water level. 



Its reputation as a table duck is very high, but the excellence is 

 attained only when the birds have for some time been feeding on 

 wild celery, of which they are very fond. When that fare is not 

 available they are no better for the table than Redheads or Bluebills. 



The Canvas-back has been taken at Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, 

 St. Clair Plats, and other points in Southern Ontario, but only as a 

 p-^'-aggler. It is rare throughout the North- West, but is mentioned 

 by Mr. Dall as breeding abundantly at Fort Yukon, though it had 

 not been observed at any other point in Alaska. Being generally 

 distributed throughout the marshes in the interior through the sum- 

 mer, it gathers in immense flocks along the Atlantic sea coast in 

 winter, especially on Chesapeake Bay, where the much-prized wild 

 celery abounds. 



Subgenus FULIGULA Stephens. 

 AYTHYA MARILA NEARCTICA Ste.jn. 



48. American Scaup Duck. (148) 



Male: — With the head, neck and body anteriorly, black, the former with a 

 green gloss ; back and sides, whitish, finely waved in zigzag with black ; below, 

 and speculum of wing, white ; bill, dull blue with black nail ; legs, plumbeous. 



