250 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFOBNIA 



According to common report the Fulvous Tree-duck formerly 

 nested in colonies, and from 30 to 100 eggs arranged in layers were 

 found in a single nest (Barnhart, 1901, p. 67). There is no recent 

 instance or verification of such an extraordinary occurrence. Such 

 reports are doubtless exaggerations, though they must have had some 

 basis in fact. 



Sets of eggs have been collected at Los Baiios as early as April 28 

 and May 5 (Barnhart, 1901, p. 68). A nest found in the same locality 

 by W. L. Dawson June 4, 1914, contained nineteen eggs. 



"Antonin Jay found a nest containing fourteen fresh eggs at 

 Nigger Slough, Los Angeles County, May 30, 1903, and found another 

 nest June 7, the same year, which contained thirteen eggs, incubation 

 commenced" (Willett, 1912a, p. 28). A downy young specimen was 

 collected at this same locality, July 8, 1903 (Morcom coll.). P. J. Fair 

 found the species breeding plentifully at Los Baiios, Merced County, 

 during the summer of 1912. In 1914 the same locality showed a slight 

 apparent decrease in breeding birds. 



The downy young of this Tree-duck is readily distinguished from 

 the same stage in other California breeding ducks by the uniformly 

 colored upper surface, without any light spots, by the very large 

 nail on the bill, and by the long legs and large feet. 



The Fulvous Tree-duck forages chiefly at night, and is equally 

 at home in an alfalfa patch or on a body of water. It will even seek an 

 oak grove if not far from the breeding ground, where individuals 

 are said to assemble in numbers to feed on acorns (Shields, 1899, p. 

 11). 



The Fulvous Tree-duck is more easily approached than many other 

 waterfowl, but nevertheless is often difficult to find as it congregates 

 among the dense tules or far out on the marshy ponds. On occasion 

 a fiock has been easily approached and a number killed at one shot. 

 Sometimes, when Tree-ducks are surprised on grassy ground, they 

 simply stand rigidly with their heads and long necks held straight up 

 in the air, and at a distance, look more like stakes than birds. When 

 wounded they are said to escape not only by diving but also by run- 

 ning at great speed and hiding in the grass, and thus often baffle 

 entirely the hunter's efforts to recover them. 



The Fulvous Tree-duck feeds largely on the seeds of grasses and 

 weeds. In Mexico and Texas it is said to visit the corn fields at night 

 where it finds palatable provender. When feeding in muddy or 

 marshy situations the birds thrust their bills deep in the soft mud 

 on both sides and in front of them as they walk along (Brown, 1906, 

 p. 218). The stomach of an individual obtained at Los Banos, Merced 

 County, in May, 1914, and examined by us, contained finely cut up 

 grass and other vegetable matter. 



