NORTE AMERICAN BIRDS. 



103 



177. BliACK-BELLIES TREE-DUCK. Dendrocwna mtnmnalis (Linn.) 

 Geog. Dist.^Southwestern border of the United States and southward (Mexico, West 

 Indies, etc.) 



The Autumnal Tree-duck is a species of variegated plumage and long legs. It 

 Inhabits the southwestern border of the United States and southward to Mexico, 

 West Indies, Central and South America. It is commonly called "Long-legged Tree- 

 duck." Along the Rio Grande in Mexico and Texas It is abundant from April to 

 October and later. Dr. Merrill found it common in Southern Texas. He says: "This 

 large and handsome bird arrives from the South in April, and is soon found in 

 ab'undance on the river banks and lagoons. Migrating at night it continually utters 

 a peculiar chattering whistle, which at once indicates its presence. Called by the 

 Mexicans patos maizal, or Corn-field Duck, from its habit of frequenting those lo- 

 calities. It is by no means shy, and large numbers are offered for sale in the 

 Brownsville market. Easily domesticated, it becomes very tame, roosting at night 

 in irees with chickens and turkeys. When the females begin to lay, the males leave 

 them and gather in large flocks on sand-bars in the river. My knowledge of the 

 breeding habits is derived from Dr. S. M. Finley, U. S. A., who had ample oppor- 

 tunity of observing these birds at Hidalgo. The eggs are deposited in hollow trees 

 and branches, often at a considerable distance from water (two miles), and from 

 eight to thirty feet or more from the grounds The eggs are placed on 'the bare wood, 

 and are from twelve to sixteen in number. Two broods are raised, and the parent 

 carries the young to the water in her bill. Twelve eggs received from Dr. Finley 

 average 2.11x1.53, with but little variation in size; they a^'e of the usual duck shape, 

 and in color are a rather clear yellowish-white. The birds leave in September, but a 

 tew late broods are seen as late as November. The soft parts in a full plumaged liv- 

 ing male were as follows: iris, brown; bill, coral-red, orange above; nail of bill, 

 bluish; legs and feet, pinkish white."* 



Dendrocifffna fulva (Gmel.) ' Geog. Dist. — 



178. ruLvors tree-duck, 



Southern border of the United 

 States; Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, 

 California, southward. 



Resembles the last in its gen- 

 eral appearance, habits, etc. Its 

 geographical range is chiefly 

 within the tropics, extending as 

 far South as the Argentine Re- 

 public. Dr. Merrell states that 

 this species is about as common 

 as tjie Corn-field Duck in South- 

 ern Texas, both species frequent- 

 ing the same, places. He learned 

 nothing definite in regard to its 

 breeding habits, but they prob- 

 ably do not differ much from 

 those of the other bird. The Ful- 

 vous Tree-duck is said to lay 

 from ten to fifteen pure white 

 eggs. 



VJS. Fulvous Trek-duck. (Jasper.) 



•Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas: Proceedings U. S. National Museum, 

 Vol. I., page 169. 



