FULVOUS TREE-DUCK 247 



1.35 to 1.65 by 1.98 to 2.20 (in millimeters, 34.3 to 41.8 by 50.3 to 55.8) ; color 

 ivory white, surface texture rather rough (Shields, 1899, pp. 10-11). 



General distribution— Mexico and southwestern United States; also south- 

 ern Uruguay and Argentina, South Africa and India. In North America breeds 

 from central California and central Texas south to Valley of Mexico; winters 

 from central California (rarely) and central Texas to southern Mexico 

 (modified from A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 88). 



Distribution in California — Common summer visitant to interior tule 

 marshes in the southern coastal district and central portion of the state; 

 breeds in San Joaquin Valley north to Los Banos, Merced County (Barnhart, 

 1901, p. 67; and authors), and in a few suitable places in Los Angeles County 

 (Willett, 1912a, p. 28). Northernmost records at any season: Marin County 

 (J. Mailliard, 1904, p. 15); Marysville, Yuba County (Belding, 1879, p. 445); 

 and Owens Valley (A. K. Fisher, 1893o, p. 19). Several instances of occurrence 

 on or near central seacoast: Carmel Eiver, Monterey County (Beck, 1910, p. 69) ; 

 Elkhoru, Monterey County (H. C. Bryant, MS) ; Salinas, Monterey County 

 (Silliman, 19156, p. 207); and Santa Barbara (Dawson, 1916, p. 25). A few 

 occur in various parts of the summer range during the winter months. 



The term tree-duck, as applied to the Fulvous Tree-duck, seems 

 to be an almost complete misnomer for the bird. As regards structure 

 this species seems to be more closely related to the geese than to the 

 ducks, and, at least in California, it seldom nests in trees but chooses 

 the extensive tule marshes of our interior valleys. Birds apparently 

 belonging to the same species of Tree-duck that occurs in this state 

 are found in South America, in southern Uruguay and Argentina, 

 and also in South Africa and in India — a very striking case of what 

 is known as interrupted or discontinuous distribution. In North 

 America the chief breeding ground of the species is in Mexico, but 

 a considerable number of birds breed in the southwestern United 

 States. The latter contingent is migratory, moving south for the 

 winter season. 



In California, Fulvous Tree-ducks are most widely distributed in 

 spring and fall, but are always found in fresh water situations. Some 

 records of spring migrants are: Mecca, Riverside County, April 5, 

 1908 (Mus. Vert. Zool) ; Los Angeles, April 18, 1898 (Swarth, 1900, 

 p. 14) ; Los Banos, Merced County, April 24, 1912 (Beck, MS) ; and 

 Stockton, San Joaquin County, April 1 (Belding, MS). On May 5, 

 6 and 7, 1879, Belding (1905, p. 112) witnessed a remarkable flight 

 of these birds over a slough near Stockton. They were moving north 

 and all followed the same general "fly-line." 



Most of these ducks have finished nesting and have gone south 

 before the opening of the duck season on October 15. A late record, 

 which may possibly be for wintering birds, is November 1, on which 

 date two immature birds of this species were found in the markets 

 of Stockton. Thus it will be seen that the Fulvous Tree-duck is a 

 rather late arrival in the spring and that it departs south compara- 

 tively early in the fall. 



