RED-HEADED DUCK 



111 



part of the back and sides under the wings brownish black, crossed 

 with regular zig-zag lines of whitish; vent, rump, tail, and tail co- 

 verts black ; legs and feet dark ash. 



The female has the upper part of the head dusky brown, rest 

 of the head and part of the neck a light sooty brown; upper part 

 of the breast ashy brown, broadly skirted with whitish; back dark 

 ash, with little or no appearance of white pencilling ; wings, bill, 

 and feet nearly alike in both sexes. 



This duck is sometimes met with in the rivers of North and 

 South Carolina, and also in those of Jersey and New York ; but 

 always in fresh water, and usually at no great distance from the 

 sea. Is most numerous in the waters of the Chesapeake ; and with 

 the connoisseurs in good eating, ranks next in excellence to the 

 Canvas-back. Its usual weight is about a pound and three quar- 

 ters, avoirdupois* 



The Red-head leaves the bay and its tributary streams in 

 March, and is not seen until late in October. 



The male of this species has a large flat bony labyrinth on 

 the bottom of the windpipe, very much like that of the Canvas- 

 back, but smaller ; over one of its concave sides is spread an ex- 

 ceeding thin transparent skin, or membrane. The intestines are 

 of great width, and measure six feet in length. 



