103 



CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 

 AKAS VALmiNERIA. 

 [Plate LXX.— Fig. 5.] 



Peale's Museum, «A'o. 281C. 



THIS celebrated American species, as far as can be judged 

 from the best figures and descriptions of foreign birds, is altoge- 

 ther unknown in Europe. It approaches nearest to the Pochard 

 of England, Anas ferinay but differs from that bird in being supe- 

 rior in size and weight, in the greater magnitude of its bill, and 

 the general whiteness of its plumage. A short comparison of the 

 two will elucidate this point. The Canvas-back measures two 

 feet in length, by three feet in extent, and when in the best order 

 weighs three pounds and upwards. The Pochard, according to 

 Latham and Bewick, measures nineteen inches in length, and 

 thirty in extent, and weighs one pound twelve or thirteen ounces. 

 The latter writer says of the Pochard, " the plumage above and 

 below is wholly covered with prettily freckled slender dusky 

 threads disposed transversely in close set zig-zag lines, on a pale 

 ground, more or less shaded off with ash ; " a description much 

 more applicable to the bird figured beside it, the Hed Ilead^ and 

 which very probably is the species meant. In the figure of the 

 Pochard given by Mr. Bewick, who is generally correct, the bill 

 agrees very well with that of our Red Head; but is scarcely half 

 the size and thickness of that of the Canvas-back; and the figure 

 in the Planches Enluminees corresponds in that respect with Be- 

 wick's. In short, either these writers are egregiously erroneous 

 in their figures and descriptions, or the present duck was altogether 

 unknown to them. Considering the latter supposition the more 



