BlJiUS OB' KANSAS. 73 



beous. lli(> nail and loiiLntiidiiial space 011 tlie culnieu black: eyelids clnonie 

 yellow; iris raw sleinia; legs and feet yellowish brown. JDoirny young: Above, 

 deep hair brown, darker (or clove brown) on the pileum and tail; a dingy 

 whitish bar along the posterior border of the arm wing, and a roundish spot of 

 the same on each side of the rump. Lores, superciliary stripe extending back 

 nearly to the occiput, with lateral and inider parts of the head generally, bright 

 suliihury buff, crossed by a wide stripe of blackish brown extending from the 

 occiput forward to the eye; remaining lower parts dingy white, the sides brown- 

 ish, this crossed on the flanks by an indistinct whitish bar." 



This elegant Duck, with its full flowing crest and rich, varied 

 attire, is unsurpassed in beauty by any of the water birds. It 

 is very common throughout the United States, along the slug- 

 gish streams, ponds and marshy grounds skirted with trees, or 

 near the wooded lands. 



In flight the birds are very swift, and, without slacking their 

 speed, wind with ease through the thick groves and lieavily 

 timbered forests. 



Their food consists chiefly of insect life, tlie tender shoots 

 and seeds of aquatic plants, grains, wild grapes and acorns, 

 which they gather as well from the vines and tree tops as upon 

 the ground; upon the latter they fatten fast, and at such times 

 their flesh is tender, juicy, and most delicious to the taste when 

 roasted — the proper, and in ray opinion the only, way a duck 

 should be cooked. 



Audubon says: '•'Few birds are more interesting to observe 

 during the love season than Wood Ducks. The great neatness 

 and beauty of their apparel, and the grace of their motions, al- 

 ways afford pleasure to the observer; and, as I have had abund- 

 ant opportunities of studying their habits at that period, I am 

 enabled to present you with a full account of their proceedings. 

 When March has again returned and the dogwood expands its 

 pure blossoms to the sun, the Cranes soar away on their broad 

 wings, bidding our country adieu for a season, flocks of water 

 fowl are pursuing their early migrations, the frogs issue from 

 their muddy beds to pipe a few notes of languid joy, the Swallow 

 has just arrived and the Bluebird has returned to his box. The 



