Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



33^ 



another stripe of white behind the 

 eye, extending to the nape; chin 

 and throat, white, extending up- 

 wards in a streak on sides of the 

 head .0 the ear coverts; sides and 

 front of the lower neck and under 

 breast, purphsh chestnut, dotted 

 with white spots; under parts, 

 white, sides sometimes grayish, 

 showing faint pencilhng of dusky 

 lines; upper parts showing bronze-green and purple; speculum, 

 bluish green, edged with black and white. 

 Length, 18.50; wing, 9.50; bill, 1.40. 



Adult female: Crest, small, but the feathers somewhat lengthened; 

 head and neck, grayish, whitening on the chin and front of the eyes; 

 front of the neck and breast, pale brown, mottled with grayish; the 

 breast showing numerous brown spots, which fade away on the lower 

 breast; belly, white. 



Length, 18; wing, 9.30; bill, 1.35. 



The Wood Duck is a common summer resident in parts of Illi- 

 nois and Wisconsin, but like most other species it is decreasing in 

 numbers. It breeds in both states in suitable localities, preferring 

 wooded streams and ponds to the larger lakes. The nest is placed in 

 a hole in a tree or large stump, from which the female carries the 

 young in her bill down to the water. The eggs are from 8 to 12, 

 sometimes 14, pale buff white, and measure about 2.05 x 1.50 inches. 

 "Common migrant and rather common summer resident in se- 

 cluded localities and is especially abundant in the 'bottoms' along 

 the rivers in the southern part of the state." (Nelson, Birds N. E. Illi- 

 nois, 1876, p. 140.) "Formerly a very common summer resident in 

 all heavily wooded regions about streams; at the present time more 

 common during the migrations, spring and fall. =•= ='= * * Consider- 

 able numbers still nest in favorable localities in the central and 

 northern parts of the state and in a few places in southern Wisconsin, 

 as about Delavan Lake." (Kumlien and Hollister, Birds Wisconsin, 

 1903, p. 20.) 



Subfamily FULIGULINiE. The Sea Ducks. 



The members of this subfamily have the bill broad, and a flap or 

 membranous lobe on the hind toe. Although classed as "sea ducks" 



