308 CANVASS-BACK DUCK. 



superior to that of the Pochard or Red-head, which often mingles in the 

 same flocks; and both species are very frequently promiscuously sold in the 

 markets as Canvass-backs. 



In the Plate are represented two Males and a Female. In the back ground 

 is a view of Baltimore, which I have had great pleasure in introducing, on 

 account of the hospitality which I have there experienced, and the generosity 

 of its inhabitants, who, on the occasion of a quantity of my plates having 

 been destro} T ed by the mob during an outburst of political feeling, indemni- 

 fied me for the loss. 



Canvass-backed Duck, Atias valisneria, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 103. 



Fuligola valisneria, Bonap. Syn., p. 392. 



Foligdla valisneria, Canvass-back Duck, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. 



p. 450. 

 Canvass-backed Duck, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 430. 

 Canvass-back Duck, Fuligula valisneriana, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 1. 



Male, 22, 33. Female, 20i, 30|. 



Abundant during winter from the mouth of the Delaware to New Orleans, 

 in all the estuaries. Columbia river. Breeds on the Rocky Mountains and 

 northward. 



Adult Male, 



Bill as long as the head, deeper than broad at the base, the margins 

 parallel, slightly dilated towards the end, which is rounded, the frontal 

 angles rather narrow and pointed. Upper mandible with the dorsal line at 

 first straight and declinate, then slightly concave, direct for a short space 

 near the tip, where it is incurved, the ridge broad and concave at the base, 

 narrowed at the middle, enlarged and convex at the end, the sides nearly 

 erect and concave at the base, becoming anteriorly more and more declinate 

 and convex, the edges curved upwards, with about 50 lamella?, the unguis 

 small and oblong. Nostrils sub-medial, linear-oblong, rather large, pervious, 

 near the ridge, in an oblong depression covered with soft membrane. Lower 

 mandible flattened, being but slightly convex, with the angle very long and 

 rather narrow, the dorsal line very short and straight, the erect edges with 

 about 55 inferior and 105 superior lamellae, the unguis obovato-elliptical. 



Head rather large, compressed, convex above. Eyes small. Neck of 

 moderate length, rather thick. Body full, depressed. Wings small. Feet 

 very short, strong, placed rather far behind; tarsus very short, compressed, 

 anteriorly with narrow scutella continuous with those of the middle toe, and 

 having another series commencing half-way clown and continuous with those 

 of the outer toe, the rest reticulated with angular scales. Hind toe small, 

 with an inner expanded margin or web; middle toe nearly double the length 



