Part 12

Female--The general plan of the markings of the female is the same as that of the male, but the colors are not so bright, nor the crest so long. The crest is more of a brown, and the breast a pale brown, mottled with dark spots.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is built in the hollow of a tree or stump, and occasionally a considerable distance above the ground. The eggs, which average about eight, are of a pale brownish white. The young are taken from the nest in the bill of the mother, and are often seen perched on her back while she is swimming around in search of food.

=Measurements=--Total length of the male, about 18 inches, with the female about an inch less; wing, 9-1/4 to 9-1/2; bill 1 3/8 inches.

THE FULVOUS TREE DUCK

(Dendrocygna fulva)

The fulvous tree-duck, commonly called the Mexican tree-duck, and cavalier, as well as the black-bellied tree-duck (=Dendrocygna autumnalis=), according to the classification of the ornithologist, belong to the subfamily, =Anserinae=, the same family as the geese. The fact that they have a bill more like that of the goose than any other duck, a goose neck also, and that there is no difference in the sexes will show the reason for such classification. Their generic name, however, signifies tree-swan. The fulvous tree-duck ranges on our hunting grounds as far north as Sacramento, where occasionally one is killed. They come here only to breed and, therefore, late in the season. Quite a few are killed in southern California, and from Arizona and Lower California south they are very plentiful. The black-bellied tree-duck is only met with as a straggler north of Chihuahua, Mexico. Another species of the same genus (=Dendrocygna elegans=) is a still more southern bird, seldom seen north of the state of Guerrero.

=Color=--Sides of head and neck and lower parts, buff; top of head, back of neck and back, dark brown; wings, dark brown; neck, long and slim; bill, resembles that of a goose very much. Both sexes alike.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are generally built in a hollow tree or stump. The eggs number from ten to fifteen and are of an ochreous white.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 9-1/2; bill, 1-3/4 inches.

Order, ANSERES

Family, ANATIDAE Subfamily, ANATINAE

(Fresh water ducks)

Genus Species Common Names Breeding Grounds and Range. --------- ------------- ----------------- ------------------------------

{boschas Mallard {Throughout the scope of { {this work. Breeds wherever { {found. { {strepera Gadwall {From Central California { {south. Breeds wherever { {found. { { {From British America south. { {Breeds on the mountain {americana Widgeon Baldpate {lakes from California Anas { {south. { { {From British America south. {carolinensis Green-winged teal {Breeds throughout its range. { { {From Central California {cyanoptera Cinnamon teal {south. Breeds from Central { {California to Central Mexico. { { {discors Blue-winged teal {From Arizona south into { {Mexico. Breeds throughout { {its range.

Spatula clypeata {Shoveller or {From British America south. {Spoon-bill {Breeds on the mountain {lakes from Mexico north.

Dafila acuta {Pin-tail or {From British America south. {Sprig {Breeds from Central {California north.

{Along the wooded streams {from Central California Aix sponsa Wood duck {north. Breeds wherever {found.

THE BAY and SEA DUCKS

As I have already stated the ducks are divided into two subfamilies, the one the =Anatinae=, commonly called fresh-water ducks, the other the =Fuligulinae=, commonly known as the salt-water ducks. A distinguishing feature of the salt-water ducks is the little flap or web on the hind toe, which is not seen in the fresh-water varieties.

On our shooting grounds, however, whether the blind is on the salt-water marsh or the fresh-water pond, both kinds are sure to fall to the gun in almost equal numbers. Of the more common of the fresh-water varieties the gadwall and the mallard are seen the least on the salt marshes and the tide overflows, yet even these are quite often met with in these places. So it is with the salt-water species. All except the scoters are frequenters of the mountain lakes, fresh-water ponds and overflows. The red-head, both species of the scaups, the canvasback and the ruddy are commonly found on the fresh-waters. The ring-neck, and, in fact, the red-head are much more common on these waters than on the salt or brackish marshes.

With the exception, therefore, that certain species always predominate at a given place at certain times of the season, the sportsman's aim brings down a well-assorted bag, let him shoot where he may, on marsh, pond or overflow, from Washington to Mexico.

THE CANVASBACK

(Aythya vallisneria)

The canvasback, the duck par excellence of the Eastern states, is very plentiful in the more northern portions of the territorial scope of these articles, though I have seen them in good numbers on the lakes of Mexico. It is the general supposition that the canvasback breeds in the far north, but from the fact that they are found on the lakes of Mexico as early as October, they must also breed on the higher lakes of our mountains. On our lower marshes they are a late duck, but they appear on our mountain lakes quite early in the season. Canvasback shooting on our waters affords the finest of sport, as it does not partake so much of flock shooting as it does on the Chesapeake and the Delaware rivers. While I certainly prefer our shooting, by no means do I prefer our ducks. When killed on the mountain lakes, our canvasback possesses nearly if not quite as fine flavor as do those of the Eastern states, but when killed on the bays and salt marshes of California they are fishy and barely palatable. This is caused by the absence of the so-called wild celery, properly tape grass (=Vallisneria spiralis=), the common food of the Eastern canvasback. Our birds have the habit of feeding largely on the shallow waters of the tide lands and marshes and of consuming large quantities of crustaceans, such as clams, crabs, mussels and the like, and it takes but a few days' diet of this kind to make the canvasback about the poorest of ducks. I have killed these ducks on the high lakes and ponds of Mexico, when, on account of something they fed upon, they were really unfit to eat.

=Color=--Male--Head and neck, nearly black; back, light gray; bill, black, and forming nearly a straight line from the tip to the crown of the head; belly and flanks, nearly white.

Female--Head and neck, cinnamon brown, paler on the throat; back, dark gray.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest of the canvasback is generally found on some little knoll in the marsh, and is lined with dead grass and feathers, and often with considerable down. The eggs, which are about ten in number, are of a dark creamy white.

=Measurements=--Total length, from 18 to 22 inches; the more northern birds within the territory here covered will always be found considerably larger than those of the more southern latitudes. Wing, 8 to 9-1/2 inches, and bill about 2-1/2 inches.