252 , GAME BISDS OF CALIFORNIA 



9.70" (233-246); culmen "1.90-2.15" (48.3-54.5); tarsus "2.25-2.60" (57.2- 

 66.0) (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, I, p. 482). Juvenile plumage: Much 

 like that of adults, but with pattern less distinct and colors duller; cinnamon 

 replaced by dingy gray, more or less tinged with rusty ochraceous; belly, flanks, 

 and under tail coverts grayish white, tinged with deeper gray; bill dusky; 

 feet dark reddish (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, loe. cit.). Natal plumage: 

 "Upper parts, blackish brown, with patches of buff on side of back and on 

 each side of rump; a bright buff stripe over the cheeks and one from cheeks 

 . . . [running backwards], blackish brown; under parts, pale buff; belly, 

 white" (Sanford, Bishop and Van Dyke, 1903, p. 253). 



Maeks for field identification — Similar to those for Fulvous Tree-duck 

 (which see), but lower half of belly black, and patches on wings white. 



Voice — ^A peculiar whistle: pe-che-che-ne (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, 

 I, p. 483). 



Nest — Usually in hollow trees, often at a considerable distance from water; 

 lining, if any, scant, consisting of feathers and down (Reed, 1904, p. 87). 



Eggs — 10 to 16, bluntly elliptical in shape, measuring in inches, 2.05 to 2.24 

 by 1.50 to 1.63 (in millimeters, 52.0 to 57.0 by 38.0 to 41.5), and averaging 

 2.15 by 1.53 (54.5 by 39.0) (twenty-one eggs in U. S. National Museum) ; 

 color white (authors). 



General distribution — Southern Texas, Mexico, and Central America. 

 Breeds from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Mazatlan, Mexico, and Panama; winters 

 from central Mexico to Panama; accidental in southern California, Arizona and 

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



Distribution in California — Rare and sporadic visitant to extreme south- 

 eastern portion of the state. One definite instance of occurrence: a bird 

 obtained from bag of ducks sent from Imperial County to San Francisco 

 market; now mounted and in collection of Vernon Shepherd, San Francisco 

 (H. C. Bryant, 1914c, p. 94). The alleged record by Xantus for Fort Tejon is 

 of doubtful authenticity. 



The Black-bellied Tree-duck is a resident of Mexico and Central 

 America, and in only one state of the Union is it to be found in num- 

 bers, namely in Texas. The fact that wanderers have been taken in 

 Arizona (Brown, 1906, p. 218) and in extreme northern Mexico 

 makes it seem quite possible that stragglers may occasionally reach 

 California. A very doubtful record by Xantus of the occurrence of 

 this species at Fort Tejon has often been quoted to substantiate the 

 placing of this bird on the California list. A more dependable record 

 has recently come to light. In the collection of Mr. Vernon Shepherd, 

 a taxidermist of San Francisco, there is a mounted male specimen 

 of the Black-bellied Tree-duck which was obtained from a sack of 

 ducks sent to L. Scatena and Company from Imperial Valley in the 

 early part of the season of 1912. This is just the region in which we 

 would expect this species to occur as a straggler from beyond our 

 southern limits. 



Both of the Tree-ducks are of moderately small size, have long 

 necks, short tails, and very long legs, and so are easily distinguished 

 from ordinary ducks and geese. From the Fulvous Tree-duck the 



