128 



BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



upper part of the breast rich dark chestnut. Interscapulars brownish gray, finely waved 

 with grayish white ; scapulars and lower parts grayish white, delicately waved with dark 

 ash. Outer webs of tertlals dark umber-brown, this also tinging the adjoining scapulars ; 

 wing-coverts uniform deep brownish gray, the last row tipped with opaaue velvety black, 

 and with a subterminal bar of pure white ; speculum rich metallic violet, With a subterminal 

 velvety black, and terminal pure white bar; primaries plain brownish ^ay. Bump, upper 

 tail-ooverts, and crissum, intense velvety black, showing faint reflections of bluish green. 

 Tail whits, the feathers grayish centrally. Two middle feathers black, slightly recurved; 

 the two longer upper tail-coverts greatly recurved. Bill olive-yellow' or ochraceoufi-olive 

 (in life), the nail black; iris dark brown; tarsi and toes fine rich orange-red (changing to 

 yellowish in dried skin). Length, about 24.00 inches; extent, 38; wing, 11.00-11.85; oulmen, 

 2.10-2.40; tarsus, 1.60-1.80; middle toe, 2.00-2.15. Adult male in slimmer: "Closely resembling 

 the female, being merely somewhat darker in color. This plumage is donned by degrees 

 early in June ; and in August the full rich winter dress is again resumed" CShabpb & 

 Dbessbe). Adult female: Wing as in the male. Above, brownish dusky, much varie- 

 gated by broad pale oohraceous edges to the feathers; beneath pale oohraceous, the 

 feathers dusky centrally, producing a thickly spotted or striped appearance. On the top 

 of the head the dusky predominates, as it also does in a loral and auricular line, form- 

 ing a lighter superciliary stripe between this and the crown. Bill dark oUve-greenlsh, 

 becoming olivaceous-yellow along edges; feet lighter, brange-red than in male. Length, 

 about 20.00-21.50 inches; wing, 10.25-11.50; oulmen, 2.00-2.35; tarsus, I.5O-7I.8O; middle toe, 

 1.90-2.05. Downy young: Above, deep olivaceous, relieved by two pairs of yellowish buff 

 spots, the first pair on the back, just behind the wings, the- second at the base of the 

 tail, the first not confluent with the buff of the lower parts ; wings deep olivaceous, varied 

 on both edges with dull greenish yellow; pileum and nape olivaceous, darker on the occi- 

 put, lighter on the forehead; a broad superciliary stripe, including the sides of the fore- 

 head, sides of the head and neck, and entire lower parts, yellowish buff, deepest on the 

 head, paler on the anal region and crissum; sides more grayish, and crossed, between the 

 wings and thighs, by two wide patches of dark olive projecting from that of the back. 

 Side of the head marked by a narrow but very distinct stripe of dark brown from the 

 upper basal angle of the maxilla to the eye. thence back to and confluent with the oliva- 

 ceous o£ the occiput; beneath the latter, almost directly over the ear, an isolated spot of 

 the same. 



The adult males in winter plumage vary chiefly in the extent and richness of the chest- 

 nut of the chest. Sometimes this is restricted to the chest, but occasionally it spreads 

 over the breast, as in No. 12,718, Washington, D. C. (December), in which the entire lower 

 parts, except the sides, are tinged with rich cream-color. 



The Mallard is probably the best known of all our wild ducks, 

 being both plentiful and conspicuous on account of its size. 

 Although chiefly a migrant, a few sometimes remain during mild 

 winters. in the southern portion of the State, and isolated pairs 

 undoubtedly breed in a few of the more secluded localities, where 

 they are reasonably free from danger of molestation. 



"Marshy places, the' margins of ponds and streams, pools and 

 ditches, are its favorite resorts. It walks with ease, and can 

 even run with considerable speed, or dive, if forced to do so ; but 

 never dives in order to feed. Its food consists chiefly of the seeds 

 of grasses, flbrous roots of plants, worms, moUusks, and insects. 

 In feeding in shallow water it keeps the hind part of its body 

 erect, while it searches the muddy bottom with its bill. When 



