CLASS AYKS 



603 



The screamers (Family PALAMEDEID^E) are all natives of South 

 America. The family ANATID^E contains about two hundred 

 and ten species of duck-like birds which are aquatic or semi- 

 aquatic in habits, and cosmopolitan in distribution. 



There are five North American subfamilies of the ANATID^E: 

 (i) the swans, CYGNIN.E; (2) the geese, ANSERINE; (3) the river- 

 ducks, ANATIISLE; (4) the sea-ducks, FULIGULIN.^; and (5) the 

 mergansers, MERGING. 



The most beautiful of all our ducks is the wood duck, .l/.v 

 sponsa (Fig. 492). This bird ranges over the entire United 

 States. Its favor- 

 ite haunts are the 

 smaller streams, 

 lakes, and ponds. 

 The eggs, from 

 six to fifteen in 

 number, are laid 

 in cavities in the 

 trunks or limbs of 

 trees. The wood- 

 duck is one of our 

 game-birds that 

 is decreasing so 

 rapidly in num- 

 bers that it seems FlG . 4Q2 . _ Wood-duck, Aix sponsa. 

 on the verge of 



extinction, and drastic action must be taken by the federal and 

 state governments if this species is not to vanish entirely. 



Order 15. Falconiformes. -- FALCON-LIKE BIRDS. -- These 

 diurnal bird^ of prey possess, in most cases, powerful wings, a 

 stout, hooked bill with a cere at the base, and strong toes armed 

 with sharp claws. The order is divided into the CATHARTID^, 

 or American vultures, the GYPOGERANID^E, or secretary-birds, 

 the FALCONID/E, or falcons, and the BUTEONID^:, or eagles, 

 hawks, kites, etc. 



