112 ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 
wings brown, each feather laced with lighter; tail, abdomen, 
and thighs black; flanks yellowish-white, finely barred with 
black ; bill and legs blackish-blue ; eye small and black. 
Similar to male, less distinct in colour. 
Female. 
Young.—No information. 
Egg.—Yellowish-white, streaked with buff. July— 
August. Incubation, about thirty days. 
RED-BILLED TREE DUCK OR WHISTLING DUCK. 
(Dendrocycna autumnalis ). 
This variety, also known as “ Black-bellied Whistler,” is 
well known in the show-pen, from which it too often returns 
deteriorated most sadly in plumage and condition. It is about 
the size of the Wigeon, though considerably more slender, and 
standing high upon a pair of long red legs. Its natural 
habitat is Mexico and Central America, where it is found on the 
hot marshes of Guiana and Brazil; nevertheless, it is capable of 
acclimatization, and when safely over the first year’s moult and 
winter, may be reckoned fairly hardy. These charming little 
birds are offered by the importers during the autumn at prices 
which I have known as high as £7, and as low as £2 a pair. 
Eyton received specimens from Peru, where he states it is 
kept tame as in this country. Colonel Grayson reports that its 
habits resemble those of the Fulvous Duck, having two broods 
in a season, and that large numbers are offered for sale in the 
markets in Texas. These Whistlers are well known among 
English fanciers, and no collection is complete without a pair. 
They become most bewitchingly tame, and will follow their 
keeper anywhere, running at a great rate on their long red legs, 
or rising off the water with a flapping motion, and skimming 
over the surface like coots even when pinioned, assisting them- 
