WATER BIRDS. 



89 



are said to breed still on the inland lakes in Oakland county. I have 

 seen two or three near Waterford in August. At the Flats it is occasionally 

 taken in April and October, and also in the marshes near Monroe and 

 Pt. Mouille." P. A. Taverner, Macomb county "Once common, now 

 rare; one bird, male, taken this fall on the Flats." Boies, Neebish Island, 

 1891-93, "People on the island tell me that they have found their nests 

 often during the summer, but I saw neither. They were plenty in the fall, 

 however." Purdy, Plymouth, 1904, "Formerly quite common, but now 

 very rare. It used to breed here, but now rarely visits our ponds and 

 streams." Dunham, Kalkaska county, 1904, "Rather rare; a few breed 

 along the Manistee River." Swales, St. Clair county, 1904, "Very rare 

 now; once a common summer resident." Van Winkle, Delta county, 

 1905, "Quite common, breeds. 



It reaches the southern counties during the latter part of March, and 

 moves southward again during September and October, the latest dates 

 being about November first. 



Fig. 20. Wood Duck. — Male. 

 From photograph of mounted bird. (Original.) 



The nest is always placed in the natural hollow of a tree, which may be 

 living or dead, and the entrance is often forty or fifty feet above the ground. 

 Mr. Covert states that 19 eggs were taken from a nest at Bass Lake, Wash- 

 tenaw county, April 30, 1897, by Dean C. Worcester and F. G. Bournes. 



This species seems to be an early nester and it is probable that the above 

 date represents about the average time for the completion of the set. 

 The number of eggs, however, seems abnormal, the usual number being 

 from eight to fifteen. The nest often contains much down, and the eggs 

 are white or buffy white and average 2.08 by 1.58 inches. 



This duck is a general feeder, but is particularly fond of acorns, and 

 spends much of its time in October along wooded streams and about 

 the margins of ponds where these can be had. Wliile sometimes found 

 in the open lake and in large ponds it is far more frequently seen along 

 the smaller streams which wind slowly between heavily wooded banks, 

 especially if there is much oak timber in the vicinity. It does not, however, 

 disdain the ordinary food of other ducks, and is frequently found in the 



