Page 352

352                RED-HEADED DUCK.
part of the breast black, spreading round to the back; belly
white, becoming dusky towards the vent by closely marked un-
dulating lines of black; back and scapulars bluish white, ren-
dered gray by numerous transverse waving lines of black; les-
ser wing coverts brownish ash; wing quills very pale slate,
dusky at the tips; lower part of the back and sides under the
wings brownish black, crossed with regular zig-zag lines of whi-
tish; vent, rump, tail, and tail coverts black; legs and feet dark
ash.
  The female has the upper part of the head dusky brown, rest
of the head and part of the neck a light sooty brown; upper part
of the breast ashy brown, broadly skirted with whitish; back
dark ash, with little or no appearance of white pencilling; wings,
bill, and feet nearly alike in both sexes.
  This Duck is sometimes met with in the rivers of North and
South Carolina, and also in those of Jersey and New York; but
always in fresh water, and usually at no great distance from
the sea. Is most numerous in the waters of the Chesapeake;
and with the connoisseurs in good eating, ranks next in excel-
lence to the Canvas-back. Its usual weight is about a pound and
three-quarters, avoirdupois.
  The Red-head leaves the bay and its tributary streams in
March, and is not seen until late in October.
   The male of this species has a large flat bony labyrinth on
the bottom of the windpipe, very much like that of the Canvas-
back, but smaller; over one of its concave sides isgspread an ex-
ceeding thin transparent skin, or membrane. The intestines
are of great width, and measure six feet in length.