ROSY-BILLED DUCK 119 



There is no doubt that Metopiana builds its own nest and until further studies of 

 its nesting habits are made we must assume that this is usually the case. It is better 

 not to dogmatize on this point, since some of our northern diving ducks, particularly 

 Red-heads, Canvas-backs, and Ruddy Ducks, lay more or less indiscriminately in 

 each others' nests. 



The nest of the Rosy-bill is a deep well-made structure built of dry flags, standing 

 about six inches above the water or very near the edge (P. L. Sclater and Hudson, 

 1889; E. Gibson, 1920; Daguerre, 1920). In other words the nest is quite typical of 

 true diving ducks, more carefully constructed than those of surface-feeding ducks. 

 It is usually placed in reed-beds or dense masses of aquatic vegetation. 



The clutch is large, numbering up to fourteen, the average perhaps ten. The eggs 

 are variable in color, running from greenish gray to cream-color and measuring from 

 51-59 mm. in length and 40-45 mm. in breadth. They are said to resemble somewhat 

 those of the Fulvous Tree Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) (E. Gibson, 1920; Daguerre, 

 1920). The incubation period lasts from twenty -six to twenty-eight days (Heinroth, 

 1908; H. Wormald, in litt.). 



Nothing is known of the care of the young or of the behavior of the male during 

 or after the incubation period. E. Gibson (1920) mentions a female that was accom- 

 panied by no less than 52 young, but such congregations are not unusual with other 

 species of water-fowl. 



Status. Though no definite statistics as to the present status of this species have 

 been published, we know that it was and still is one of the most abundant ducks in 

 the center of its distribution; that is, the Province of Buenos Aires and in Uruguay. 

 It is often found in the markets of Buenos Aires, according to D. Rodriguez (1918). 

 Mr. J. L. Peters found it second only to the Brown Pintail although, of course, greatly 

 exceeded by that ever-present species. 



Food Value. From the point of view of both size and flavor the Rosy-bill is one 

 of the best South American ducks. 



Behavior in Captivity. The Rosy -bill is a desirable addition to any collection 

 of water-fowl, both on account of the extraordinary color of its bill and because of 

 the absence of an eclipse plumage in the male. Hand-reared strains breed readily, 

 become tame, and get along well with other ducks. 



The species was not kept by earlier aviculturalists either in England or on the 

 Continent. The London Zoological Society obtained its first specimens in 1867. In 

 1870 three pairs were received and these bred in 1873, the young being hatched on 

 July 20. The species has bred in the Gardens and in other European collections a 

 number of times since. Miss Hubbard (1907) says that in 1876 twenty-seven cou- 



