. A natural history of the ducks . throughout the WestIndies. The northern migrants of other species occur only irregularly in any num-bers. It is, therefore, unlikely that the present species has anything to do with otherducks. Voice. One of the older writers (Gosse, 1847) referred to the peculiarly shrillwhistling notes uttered during the crepuscular flights to and from the feedinggrounds, and also when alarmed, and likened them to the sound produced by blow-ing forcibly over the pipe of a draw key. Other observers describe the note as anagreeable whistle, and Bangs and Zappey (1905) compare
. A natural history of the ducks . throughout the WestIndies. The northern migrants of other species occur only irregularly in any num-bers. It is, therefore, unlikely that the present species has anything to do with otherducks. Voice. One of the older writers (Gosse, 1847) referred to the peculiarly shrillwhistling notes uttered during the crepuscular flights to and from the feedinggrounds, and also when alarmed, and likened them to the sound produced by blow-ing forcibly over the pipe of a draw key. Other observers describe the note as anagreeable whistle, and Bangs and Zappey (1905) compare it with that of the Caro-lina Duck. Besides the whistling flight note the birds have a feeding call whichGundlach (1875) describes as monotonous but not loud. The voice is doubtless thesame in both sexes and the syrinx, a symmetrical, diamond-shaped pouch with ashallow keel down its middle, is also the same in the two sexes (Newton, Ibis, ser. 1,vol. 1, p. 366, 1859, plate). The whistled note can be heard at a great distance and. Map 17. Distribution of Black-billed Tree Duck (Dendrocygna arbor ed) BLACK-BILLED TREE DUCK 171 it is uttered not only during flight, but also at times when the birds are on the water(L. C. Sanford in litt.). Food. The most noteworthy characteristic of the feeding habits of these birds,and one that has been remarked again and again, is their practice of alighting in thetops of royal palms and devouring the fruit. They are very fond also of the so-calledguinea-corn when it is in milk (Gosse, 1847; Gundlach, 1875). They are essen-tially vegetarian in their diet and eat grass, seeds, berries, small fruits and on oc-casion tadpoles. They were noted as being very particular to dip under water andpound up any hard object, before eating it (English, 1916). Courtship and Nesting. The nesting season of the Black-billed Tree Duck ex-tends from June to October in Cuba (Gundlach, 1875) though it must occasionallynest earlier, for March (1864), speaking of Jamaic
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