BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
185 
and on a long journey they can fly at the rate of a hundred and 
twenty miles in the hour.” Dr. Bryant found this species common 
during the winter. 
Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VI. pi. 385. 
DA FI LA BAHAMENSIS. {Linn) 
Bahama Duck. 
Adult Male. — General plumage, tawny, mottled and streaked 
with brown ; wing, banded with lustrous green, black, and tawny, in 
the order given ; top of head and nape, brown, finely mottled with 
dark brown, rest of head and throat white ; a triangular patch on 
each side of the upper mandible, lake-red ; tail, tawny, becoming 
pale at the tip ; legs, black. 
Length 19, wing 8, tail 4.75, tarsus 1.25, bill 1.95. 
This pretty little species was quite abundant at Inagua, frequent- 
ing the large salt ponds of the interior. On May 27, while shooting 
on a small island in the lake back of Mathewstown, I observed a 
number of these birds, and shot several, all of which were in full 
breeding dress. While passing through a small marsh I discovered 
the nest of this species, the old bird flying away as I approached. 
It was simply a mat of grass placed on the ground, and contained 
nine eggs of a pale brown color. Another nest, taken a few days 
later, contained eight eggs, slightly darker than the first set. 
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