CLASS AVES. 



141 



The Wood Duck nests in hol- 

 low trees, sometimes twenty feet 

 above the ground, and six feet 

 below the opening. For lining, 

 it uses down from its own breast. 

 As soon as the whole brood of 

 twelve or fifteen are hatched, the 

 mother takes them by the wing, 

 or back of the neck, and deposit- 

 ing them on the ground, hastens 

 with them to the water. 



The Canada Goose in the spring 

 migrates in great numbers to the 

 north to breed, and returns to the 

 tropics in the autumn. It always 

 flies in flocks, having the form of 

 an acute angle, the leader falling 

 back when fatigued, and the next 

 one taking its place. The sexes 

 may be distinguished by the 

 greater length of the male's neck. 

 They are monogamous, but are sup- 

 posed to pair anew every spring. 



The Swan's* neck is in no pro- 

 portion to the length 

 of its legs, but is 

 adapted to a swimmer .A\ : 

 that never dives, yet 



* The two species of Swans 

 in America are easily distin- 

 guished, the Cygnus buccinator not 

 having the orange or yellowish 

 spot in front of the eye, which is 

 so characteristic of O. americanus. 



FIG. 



Ai.c spon'sa. 

 Wood, or Summer, Duck. 



FIG. 239. 



her' in CM can a iltn *tx. 

 Canada, or Wild, Goose. ( 5 



(Jyg 1 nus buccina'tor. Trumpeter Swau. (,' g .) 



