TJFE HISTORIES OF :NrORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL. 159 



of US. It is one of the most widely distributed species, breeding 

 throughout most of its range and wintering more or less regularly 

 over much of its habitat in the United States. For these reasons 

 its migrations are not easily traced except in the Northern States 

 and Provinces. It is a moderately early migrant, coming after the 

 ice has left the woodland ponds and timbered sloughs. Dr. F. 

 Henry Yorke (1899) says: 



They arrive in three distinct issues, after sunset and through the night, suddenly 

 appearing in tlie morning upon their accustomed haunts. The first stays but a brief 

 period, and departs for the north to breed; the second puts in an appearance a few 

 days later, but soon leaves to nest in the northern parts of the United States; the 

 third arrives directly after the second lea\-es and scivtters over the Middle States to 

 nest. This issue forms the local duck.'? of each State it breeds in. 



Dr. P. L. Hatch (1S92) writes: 



Arriving simultaneously with the other earlier species, none other braves the 

 last rigors of the departing winter in the closing days of a Minnesota March with 

 greater spirit. And when they come, like the rains of the Tropics, they pour in 

 until every pool in the woodlands has been deluged with them. 



Courtship. — Audubon's (1840) account of the courtship is very 

 attractive; he writes: 



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 waterfowl 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 wood duck almost alone remains on 

 the pool, as if to afford us an opportunity of studying the habits of its tribe. Here 

 they are, a whole flock of beautiful birds, the males chasing their rivals, the females 

 coquetting with their chosen beaux. Observe that fine drake, how gracefully he 

 raises his head and curves his neck! As he bows before the object of his love, he 

 raises for a moment his silken crest. His throat is swelled, and from it there issues a 

 guttural sound, which to his beloved is as sweet as the song of the wood thrush to 

 its gentle mate. Tlie female, as if not unwilling to manifest the desire to please 

 which she really feels, swims close by his side, now and then caresses him by 

 touching his feathers wi(h her bill, and shows disple.xsure toward any other of her 

 sex that may come near. Soon the happy pair separate from the rest, repeat every 

 now and then their caresses, and at length, having sealed the conjugal compact, fly 

 off to the woods to search for a large woodpecker's hole. Occasionally the males 

 fight with each other, but their combats are not of long duration, nor is the field 

 ever stained with blood, the loss of a few feathers or a sharp tug on the heacl being 

 generally enough to decide the contest. Although tiie wood ducks always form their 

 nests in the hollow of a tree, their care9.ses are performed exclusively on the water. 

 to which they resort for the purpose, even when their loves have been first proved 

 far above the ground on a branch of some tall sycamore. While the female is 

 depositing her eggs, the male is seen to fly swiftly past the hole in which she is 

 hidden, erecting his crest, and sending forth his love notes, to which she never 

 fails to respon d 



Nesting. — The wood duck has earned the common name of "sum- 

 mer duck" on account of its breeding and spending the summer so 

 far south; it has also been called the ''tree duck" from its habit of 



