BIRDS OF KANSAS. 71 



see a flock tluis tipjK'd up, and working their feet in the air, as 

 if trying to stand npon their heads. They move about with a 

 graceful motion of the head, and with tail partially erect, and 

 upon the land step off with a dignity of carriage, as if impressed 

 with the thought that they are no common Duck; in flight they 

 are veiy swift. 



Their nests are placed on low, but dry, grassy land, and not 

 far from the water, usually under the shelter of a bush; a mere 

 depression in the ground, lined with grass and down. Eggs 

 usually seven to ten. A set of seven, collected May 1, 1879, 

 in Hancock county, Iowa, (extreme southern breeding limits 

 known,) measure: 2.10x150, 2.09x1.49, 2.09x1.50, 2.10x1.49, 

 2.13x1.50, 2.09x1.48, 2.08x1.46; pale grayish green to olive 

 buff; in form, oval to ovate. 



Genus AIX Boie. 



"Bill small, much shorter than the head, all the lateral outliues gradually 

 converging toward the end, the nail very large, broad and prominent, forming 

 the tip of the bill; lamellae completely hidden. Adult male, with the head 

 crested, the colors rich and varied, and the markings elegant; tertials exceedingly 

 broad, truncate." 



Aix sponsa (Ltnx.). 



WOOD DUCK. 

 PLATE VI. 



Summer resident; common. Arrive the last of March to 

 first of April; begin laying the last of April. 



B. 587. E. CIS. C. 719. G. 291, 33. U. 144. 



Habitat. The whole of temperate North America; breeding 



throughout its range. (Cuba; accidental in Europe.) 



Sp. Char. ^'' Adult male: Chin, throat and foreneck pure white, sending off 

 laterally two branches, the first across the cheeks, back of, and nearly to, the 

 posterior angle of the eye, the second across the lower part of the neck, almost 

 to the nape; both bars tapering toward the end, and somewhat curved oi- fal- 

 cate in shape; a narrow white line begins at the point of the maxillary angle, 

 and is continued back on each side of the crown, widening considerably on the 

 side of the crest; a second white line commences about half an inch behind the 

 eye, and nearly the same distance above the end of the white cheek bar, and 

 follows the lower edge of the crest, where considerably wider than anteriorly; 

 remainder of the head silky metallic green, violet and purple, as follows: Cheeks 

 and space behind the white cheek bar soft violaceous black, in the latter region 



