GREATER BLACK-HEAD. 
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Adult female. General markings as in the male, but with a white patch around eye, and lacks, in a great measure, 
the bright colors and iridescence which are replaced or obscured with ashy and brownish. Young. Similar to adult fe¬ 
male but the breast is streaked with whitish. The males, however, are brighter than the females. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known in all stages by the iridescent colors of wings as described. Distributed, in summer, throughout Temperate 
North America; wintering in the South. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 18*00; stretch, 29*00; wing, 9 00; tail, 4*12; bill, 
1*35; tarsus, 1*30. Longest specimen, 19*00; greatest extent of wing, 29*75; longest wing, 9*60; tail, 4*25; bill, 1'50; tarsus, 
1*40. Shortest specimen, 17'00; smallest extent of wing, 28*00; shortest wing, 8*45; tail, 4*00; bill, 1*25; tarsus, 1*20 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in holes of trees, composed of grass, weeds, feathers, etc. Eggs, six to ten in number, elliptical in 
form, and pale brown in color. Dimensions from 1*05 x 1*55 to l*15 x 1*65. 
HABITS. 
The beautiful Wood Ducks are among the best known of all the species which resort 
to our inland waters, for they are abundant in summer and breed from Maine to Florida, 
and it is a singular fact, that the eggs are deposited in the latter named State in May and 
June, nearly or quite as late as they are laid further north. The Wood Ducks almost in¬ 
variably select a hole in a tree or stub in which to build, often some distance from the wa¬ 
ter and occasionally at a considerable height from the ground, and when a pair of these 
birds have selected a particular tree, they will return to it year after year. Mr. Will Per- 
ham called my attention to a section of a hollow log which he had fastened in the fork of 
a huge pine that stands near Tyng Pond, which he said -was the nesting place of a certain 
pair of these Ducks, and also stated that they had used it for several years. As the young 
do not remain in the nest long after being hatched, they must be # removed by the parents 
and carried to the water. These elegant birds are easily tamed, and even when in a state 
of nature, will readily associate with domesticated fowls, feeding with them through the 
entire summer. In autumn, the Wood Ducks often visit the woods in search of chestnuts 
and acorns. They migrate southward during October but occur in Florida all winter. 
GENUS XI. FULIGULA. THE BAY DUCKS. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, longer than head, quite wide, somewhat flattened, and not expanded at tip. Marginal indentations, 
open. 
The trachea is straight and without any special dilatation. The larynx in males is expanded and provided with a bony 
frame-work. Stomach, muscular. Sexes, not similar. There are live species within our limits. 
FULIGULA MARILA. 
Greater Black-head. 
Fuligula mari/a Steph., Shaw’s Zool. XII; 1824, 197. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, large. Color. Adult male. Head, neck all around, upper parts, breast, sides, flanks, 
and under tail coverts, black, glossed with green and violet on head, becoming slightly brownish around middle of neck, 
finely banded with white across back. Remainder of under parts, white, faintly banded with black on abdomen. Black 
feathers of breast, slightly tipped with white, and those on shoulders are faintly spotted with it. Speculum, white. Bill, 
blue, with nail and feet, black. Iris, orange. Adult female. Similar, but the black is replaced by brown, and the barrings 
above are faintly indicated. The sides are brown and there is a whitish space around base of bill. Young. Resemble the 
adult female but are more reddish above. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known from the following species by the large size and decidedly greenish gloss to head; and from all others, by the 
broad blue bill and white speculum. Distributed in summer throughout Northern America; wintering from Massachu¬ 
setts to the Carolinas. 
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