COMMON AMERICAN SCAUP DUCK. 
239 
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 mari- 
hides of Vigors. 
Mr. Bell has kindly sefPt 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 typical Fuligulu 
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. 
18$, 32. 
Shores of Long Island, and generally distributed. 
Adult Male in January. 
In this species the bill is narrower at the base than at top by nearly one- 
third. It is of a pale blue colour, the unguis rather large, hooked at the 
point and black. The irides bright yellow ; the whole head and neck, as 
well as the upper part of the breast and back, black ; cheeks and sides of 
neck glossed with rich reflections of green, the rest of the back and scapu- 
lars striped in zigzag and well divided lines of black on a white ground ; 
wing-coverts darker grey than the back ; primaries browmish-black ; the 
secondaries white, forming the speculum, and tipped with black narrowly 
edged with white. Bump and upper tail-cover ts black ; tail feathers brown- 
ish-black ; breast, sides below the wing, and the flanks, pure white ; the belly 
behind the legs undulated with greyish lines on a dull whitish ground ; legs 
and toes bluish-black, the membranes darker. 
Bill along the ridge 2J inches, along the edge 2, to pinion 10i, to end of 
claws 201 ; flexure of wing 81 ; bill to end of tail 18f ; alar extent 32 ; claws 
beyond the tail 2s. First quill longest. Tail of 14 feathers 2$ 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 
