512 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



on the lores, chin, and throat. A broken circlet of white feathers at the base of the 

 neck. Back, scapulars, rump, upper tail coverts, and tail above glossy black, show- 

 ing rich dark green and violet reflections. Breast rich chestnut, this color also 

 extending in lessening intensity over the sides to the anterior portion of the back, 

 where it appears as a brown wash on the feathers. The chestnut of the breast gradu- 

 ally gives way posteriorly to the grizzled gray color-effect of the abdominal region, 

 which is due to a fine wavy combination of white and black, the latter predominating 

 laterally. Under tail-coverts like the back. Wing-coverts dusky olive-green, the 

 greater ones obsoletely white-tipped, and crossed terminally by a narrow band of 

 black and brown. Primaries dusky black. Speculum iridescent dark purplish green, 

 white-bordered behind. Length (from well made skin), 29 inches; wing, 13; tail, 

 6.25 ; bill, 2.40.] 



20. Anas boschas. Mallard. 



A transient visitant in spring and fall, in some seasons quite abun- 

 dant, at other times almost rare. As a rule the Black Mallard is more 

 numerous than the present species, but in the fall of 1 90 1 the Mallards 

 outnumbered the others species ten to one, an unprecedented flight 

 having taken place October 17 to 19. The earliest record for the 

 spring migration is February 23, 1891, and other first dates for this 

 season are March 11, 1897, March 8, 1898, and March 2, 1902 

 (Bacon). In the spring of 1900 it came under our notice first on March 

 28, when a number were seen resting on the edge of the ice on Erie 

 Bay. This was the only occasion when it was found on the bay, 

 although occasionally it was seen flying over. During April it was 

 seen at frequent intervals in the several ponds of the Peninsula, either 

 alone or in the company of other " pond ducks," particularly the Black 

 Mallard. Early in the season it was usually found in flocks number- 

 ing from six to twelve individuals, but during the latter part of its stay 

 it was almost invariably in pairs, each pair by itself, and doubtless 

 mated for the season. May 4 was our latest spring record, and Mr. 

 Bacon notes a pair seen May 5, 1902. Beyond question the Mallard 

 bred at this locality in former years, as stated by Dr. Warren {Birds 

 of Pennsylvania, 1890, 35), on the authority of Mr. James Thompson. 

 However, in December, 1902, Mr. Thompson personally informed 

 the writer that it was then more than ten years, to the best of his 

 knowledge and belief, since this species had bred in the neighborhood 

 of Erie. Mr. Bacon has never seen it under such circumstances, 

 although he has noted a single old birdjas early as August 24 (1896). 

 It is generally about the middle of September, however, before it 

 reappears in the fall according to the same observer. In 1 900 Septem- 

 ber 2 1 was the recorded date of arrival, and it was noted at intervals 



