314 BIRDS OF WESTERN AND 



fields during the night in great numbers, and committing considerable depredations upon the ripe corn ; I 

 have also met with them in the night time walking along the road, far from any water, picking up the grains 

 of corn that had been dropped by the packers. 



" It is more abundant in the vicinity of Mazatlan in the latter part of the dry season than its congener, but 

 in the months of April and May they migrate during the night towards Sonora ; many of them, however, 

 remain and breed in this locality during the summer, as I have shot them in every month in the year. They 

 breed in the hollows of large trees, and lay from twelve to fifteen eggs ; the young are lowered to the ground 

 one at a time in the mouth of the mother ; after all are safely landed she then cautiously leads her young 

 brood to the nearest water. 



" This duck perches with facility on the branches of trees, and when in the corn-fields, upon the stalks, in 

 order to reach the ears of corn. Large flocks of them spend the day on the bank of some secluded lagoon, 

 densely bordered with woods or water-flags, also sitting among the branches of trees, not often feeding or 

 stirring about during the day. When upon the wing they constantly utter their peculiar whistle of Pe-che- 

 che-n6, from which they have received their name from the natives. (The other species is called Durado.) I 

 have noticed that this species seldom lights in deep water, always preferring the shallow edges, or the ground; 

 the cause of this may be from the fear of the numerous alligators that usually infest the lagoons. 



" When taken young, or the eggs hatched under the common barn-yard hen, they become very domestic 

 without being confined ; they are very watchful during the night, and, like the goose, give the alarm by their 

 shrill whistle when any strange animal or person comes about the house. A lady of my acquaintance pos- 

 sessed a pair which she said were as good as the best watch dog ; I also had a pair which were equally as 

 vigilant, and very docile." 



274. Anas boschas Linn. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



"Not abundant, and only met with in winter months." 



275. Anas ohscura Gm. 

 Tepic, Grayson. 



" I shot many of this species near Tepic, but have not seen one in the vicinity of Mazatlan. They doubt- 

 less breed in the locality of Tepic, as I found them there in the month of June in pairs." 



276. Dajila acuta (Linn.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson; Coahuana, Xantus. 



" Common throughout this region in winter months only." 



277. Nettion carolinensis (Gm.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



"Abundant from November to March." 



278. Querquedula diseors (Linn.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



"A common species in this locality ; a few remain throughout the summer." 



279. Querquedula cyanoptera Vig. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



"A rather common species during the winter and spring months, but never abundant." 



280. Spatula dypeata (Linn.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson ; Guayamas, Dr. Palmer. 

 " Very common from November to May." 



