356 COMMON AMERICAN SCAUP DUCK. 



plainly saw the difference between the two species, but could not figure 

 the typical Scaup Duck at the time. I believe, however, that it was 

 described by Mr. Giraud, whose paper was read by himself before the 

 members of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. I do not know 

 whether or not Mr. Giraud gave a new name to this species, and it does 

 not signify, as it is now well established by Mr. Yarrell of London, as 

 above stated, that it is the Fuligula Marila, and that our smaller species 

 is the Fuligula mariloides of Vigors. 



Mr. Bell has kindly sent me specimens in the flesh, and fresh, from 

 which I have figured the male and female, and taken very exact measure- 

 ments, weight, &c. Mr. Vigors, in speaking of these two species, says: 

 "Several specimens of a bird nearly allied, if not the same, were brought 

 home by the expedition. They uniformly differ from the t3^pical Fuligula 

 Marila in their smaller size; in the black colour on the breast being less 

 intense and defined; in the undulating white markings being less diffused 

 over the scapulars and back, and being wanting almost entirely on the wing- 

 coverts." 



Common American Scaup Duck, Fuligula Marila. 



18f, 32. 



Shores of Long Island, and generally distributed. 



Adult Male in January. 



In this species the bill is narrower at the base than at top by nearly one- 

 third. It is of a pale blue colour, the unguis rather large, hooked at the 

 point, and black. The irides bright yellow; the whole head and neck, as 

 well as the upper part of the breast and back, black; cheeks and sides of 

 neck glossed with rich reflections of green, the rest of the back and scapulars 

 striped in zigzag and well divided lines of black on a white ground; 

 wing-coverts darker grejr than the back; primaries brownish-black; the 

 secondaries white, forming the speculum, and tipped with black narrowly 

 edged with white. Rump and upper tail-coverts black; tail feathers brown- 

 ish-black; breast, sides below the wing, and the flanks, pure white; the belly 

 behind the legs undulated with greyish lines on a dull whitish ground; legs 

 and toes bluish-black, the membranes darker. 



Bill along the ridge 2i inches, along the edge 2, to pinion 10J, to end of 

 claws 20§; flexure of wing Si; bill to end of tail 1S|-; alar extent 32; claws 

 beyond the tail 2|. First quill longest. Tail of 14 feathers 2§- in length. 

 Weight 2 pounds avoirdupois. 



The Female is somewhat smaller, the head and neck dark brown, the bill 

 as in the male, as well as the irides; around the base of the bill a broad band 



