452 
BUCEPHALA CLAN Gil LA. 
mainder of neck, body anterior to shoulders, lower back and tail coverts, black. Under parts and back white, finely spot¬ 
ted on former and sides with black, but the white predominates. Wings and tail, brown. Speculum, bluish-ash, tip¬ 
ped with white, and edged above with black. Iris, red, bill black, and feet, blue. 
Adult female. Brown throughout, becoming lighter below, with the feathers edged with yellowish. The white mark¬ 
ings above are only faintly indicated. Otherwise as in the male. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known in all stages by the long bill which is high at base, and predominating white above which is the reverse in the 
preceding which see for further comparison. Distributed, in summer, throughout the North-west and North; wintering 
from New Jersey to Middle Florida. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 2P50; stretch, 32-00; wing, 9’76, tail. 
2 62; bill, 2’75; tarsus, l'fi'2. Longest specimen, 23 - 25; greatest extent of wing, 33-00; longest wing, lO'OO; tail, 2 75: bill, 
3*00: tarsus, 1-75. Shortest specimen, 20"35; smallest extent of wing, 31-00; shortest wing, 9"50; tail, 2’50; bill, 2'50; tar¬ 
sus, 1"50. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of sticks, weeds, etc. Eggs, six to ten in number, elliptical 
in form, and ashy-green in color. Dimensions from P70x2"50 to l'75x2‘55. 
HABITS. 
The Canvas-backed Ducks, so well known to sportsmen and epicures, are found in 
our section most abundantly in the waters of the bays and sounds of the middle districts, 
and although like the preceding species, a few reach Florida, neither are ever found in the 
southern portion of the peninsula. The fine flavor which the flesh of these Ducks is said 
to possess, is probably due partly to the imagination of those who pay high prices for the 
privilege of eating it, but I must confess, however, that I never could see any difference 
between these birds, even when taken in the Chesapeake, and other Ducks; while those 
which I have obtained in Florida, have always been so dry and fishy, that they were utter¬ 
ly worthless. The Canvas-backs, in common with many others of the Bay Ducks, dive 
well, remaining under water for a long time. This species and the preceding are intimate¬ 
ly associated throughout their entire distribution. 
GENUS XL BUCEPHALA. THE TREE DUCKS. 
Gen. Ch. Bill , shorter than head, very high at base, narrowing gradually toward tip and not fattened. Neck, short. 
Marginal indentations, closed. 
The trachea is variable but the larynx of the male is expanded and provided with a bony frame-work. The stomach 
is very muscular. Sexes, not similar. There are three species within our limits. 
BUCEPHALA CLANGULA. 
Golden-eyed Duck. 
Bucephala clangula Coues, Key; 1872, 290. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Trachea, widely dilated in the center, where it is capable of expansion and con¬ 
traction. Bill, long. Color. Adult male. Head, upper neck all around, and upper parts, black, glossed with green and 
violet. Round spot at base of bill, line through wing, and remainder of neck and under parts, white. Scapularies, lancc- 
shaped, streaked and edged with white. Tibia, under wing coverts, and axillaries, brown. Iris, orange. Bill, black. 
Feet, yellow. Adult female. Similar, but the black is replaced by ashy-brown which becomes grayish-white on neck be¬ 
low, and all the feathers are edged with whitish. Young. Resemble the adult female, but in males the round spot at the 
base of bill is sometimes faintly indicated. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the white circular spot at base of bill, lance-shaped scapularies, and greenish gloss on head. Distributed, 
in summer, from Northern New England, northward; wintering from Massachusetts, southward. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 20-00; stretch, 30"50; wing, 8-50; tail, 3’75; bill, 
P60; tarsus, P40. Longest specimen, 23-00; greatest extent of wing, 32 - 00; longest wing, 9'00; tail, 4*00; bill, P80; tarsus, 
P50. Shortest specimen, 18 - 75; smallest extent of wing, 29 - 00; shortest wing, 8-00; tail, 3-50; bill, P40; tarsus, 1-25. 
