ANATID^— THE BWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 127 



Subgenus ANAS Linnaeus. 



Anas Linn. S. N." ed. 10, i, 1758, 122; ed. 12, i, 1766. 194. Type, by elimination, A. 6os- 

 chas Linn. 



SuBQEN. Chab. Usually rather large-sized duoks (wing, in North American species, 

 10 inches or more), with the bill a little longer than the head or foot, rather broad, de- 

 pressed, the edges parkllel, the end rounded; speculum metalUo green, blue, or violet, 

 in both sexes, usually bordered posteriorly by a black band, this generally succeeded 

 by a white one. 



' The two species which are known to occur in Illinois are 

 characterized as follows: 



A. Adult male, except in breeding season, very different from the female, the plumage 

 varied and brilliant; secondaries tipped with white, and greater coverts crossed by a 

 subterminal bar of the same. 



1. A, bosohas. Adult male: Four middle tail-feathers strongly recurved; head and 

 neck brilliant velvety green; chest rich chestnut, with a white collar between it 

 and the green of the neck; speculuin rich metallic violet, bounded anteriorly by a 

 black bar, this preceded by a white one, and posteriorly by a black subterminal 

 and white terminal band. Adult female and mal' in 'breeding season: Wings 

 as in the above; elsewhere variegated lyith dusky and ochraceous, the fotmer 

 on the centres of the feathers, and predominating on the upper parts, the latter 

 on the borders, and prevailing beneath. 



B. Sexes alike, at all ages and seasons; no white on the outer surface of the wing. 



2. A. obsoura. Prevailing color dusky, the feathers bordered with dull ochraceous ; 

 head and neck dull buff, everywhere streaked with dusky; no black at base of 

 the bill; speculum usually deep yiolet. I 



Anas boschas Linn. 



MAILABD. 



Popular synonyms. Green-head; Wild Drake; Wild Duck; English Duck (Florida); 

 French Duck (Louisiana); Gray Duck; Gray Mallard. _ 



Anas boscJias Linn. S. N. ed, 10, i, 1758, 127; ed. 12, i, 1766, 205.— WiLS. Am. Orn. viii, 

 1814, 112, pi. 70, f, 7.— AUD. Orn. Biog. ili, 1835, 164. pi. 221; Synop. 1839, 276; B. 

 Am. vi, 1843, 236. pi, 385— Baied, B. N. Am. 1858, 774; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 576.— 

 COUES, Key, 1872, 285; Check List, 1873, 4S8; B. N. W. 1874, 559.i-B. B; &B,. Water 

 B. N. Am. i, 1884, 491— Hensh. Zool. Wheeler's Exp. 1875, 472.— A. O. U. Check 

 List, 1886, No. 132.-EIDQW. Orn. 40th Par. 1877, 621; Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 91. 

 Anas boscas Whabton, Ibis, 1879, 453.— Eidgw. Nom. N. Am, B. 1881, No. 601.— Ooues, 

 Check List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 707. 



Anas domestica Gmel. S. N. i, pt.ji, 1788, 538. 



Anas (£ochas) domestica Sw. &. BiCH. P. B.-A. ii, 1831, 442.— NuTT Man. ii, 1834, S78. 



Anas /era "Beiss."— Leach, Cat. Brit. Mus. 1816, 30. 



Anas adunca Linn. S. N. ed. 12. i, 1766, 206.— Gmel. S. N. i, pt.ii. 1788, 538. 



Hab. Northern hemisphere; in North America, generally distributed, migrating 

 south in winter to Panama, Cuba, and Bahamas. , 



Sp. Chab. A dult male in fall, winter, and spring: Head and neck continuous soft bril- 

 liant metallic green, showing purple and golden-bronzO' reflections in different lights. 

 A ring of pure white round the lower part of the neck interrupted behind; chest and 



