THE PIED DUCK 229 



eastern coasts of America as far as Chesapeake 

 Bay. But little has been recorded of the habits of 

 the Pied Duck. Wilson tells us that in his time 

 it was rather scarce on the coasts, and was never 

 met with on fresh-water lakes and rivers. By 

 some gunners it was known as the Sand Shoal 

 Duck, from its habit of resorting to sand-bars. He 

 tells us that its principal food appeared to be 

 shellfish, which it obtained by diving; whilst 

 Audubon was assured that the bird was caught on 

 lines baited with mussels. Wilson writes that 

 nothing more was known of their habits or mode 

 of breeding. This Duck appears to have nested on 

 rocky islands, laying its eggs in a nest similar to 

 that of the Eider. 



Whether this species was so closely allied to the 

 Eiders as some naturalists think, seems extremely 

 doubtful. All the male Eiders have more or less 

 green plumage on the head, a characteristic wanting 

 in the male of the Pied Duck. Then the Eiders 

 are birds of remarkably limited migrations, but 

 the subject of the present chapter was noted for 

 its very distinct seasonal movements. Its general 

 style and coloration seem to show closer affinities 

 with the Long-tailed Duck, so that, all things con- 

 sidered, its generic separation seems reasonable. 



