THE WOOD DUCK. 78/ 



with faint metallic reflections : throat and space about eye ( extending backward 

 to occiput ) and some feathering about base of bill, white ; rest of head ash_v 

 brown ; upperparts much as in male but duller, chiefly warm brown in place of 

 black; fore-neck and breast brown, streaked with lighter or dull ochraceous; 

 bellv white; crissum mixed fuscous and white. Length, adult male: 19.00-20.50 

 (482.6-520.7); wing 9.15 (232.4); tail 3.88 (98.6); bill 1.30 i t,^) : tarsus 1.36 

 (34.5). Female, length : 17.00-19.25 (431.8-489') ; other dimensions in proportion. 



Recognition Marks. — Smaller than Mallard. Ex(|uisitely variegated plum- 

 age of male unmistakable ; female unlike that of any other species. 



Nesting. — Xcst: in a hollow tree, lined with twigs, grasses, and down. 

 Eggs: 8-14, huffy white. .\v. size. 2.05 x 1.55 I 52.1 x 31)4). Season: c. May 20; 

 one brood. 



General Range. — Temperate Xortli .\merica. lirecding thruout its range. 

 Cuba. Accidental in Europe. 



Range in Washington. — Formerly common summer resident and migrant. 

 Now rare thruout the State save on islands of lower Columbia where still 

 abundant. 



Authorities. — Newberry, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. \'I. pt. I\'. 1857, p. 102. 

 T. C&S. L'. Rh. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens. — 1 U. of W.) Prov. B. BN. 



FEW if any more exquisitely beautiful creatures have been fashioned in 

 the workshop of Nature than the Wood Ducks of America. Among the 

 Ducks, certainly, only the Mandarin ( Aix galcriculata I of China, a near rela- 

 ti\e, may \'ie with this species in brilliancy of coloring and delicacy of mould. 

 Linnsus called the Wood Duck the Bride ( Latin, sponsa. Ijride ) but, of course, 

 it is the bridef/rco;;/ who wears tlie jewels and inherits the pruducts of Oriental 

 dye-stufifs, bequeathed thru a thousand generations ; for, Males must strut 

 and females must work, is the rule among ducks as among most other birds. 

 Literally all the colors of the rainbow belong to this bird in his nuptial plumage, 

 with black and wdiite thrown in for good measure. And with all this gaudy 

 attire go many accomplishments not attained by any others in the group. 



Birds of this species frequent secluded swamps, bayous, and sheltered 

 water-ways. They are swift and graceful fliers, and they are able to traverse 

 the mazes of the forest with the ease of pigeons. They perch readih' upon the 

 branches of trees, and even walk along them without liesitancy. To the 

 aquatic fare offered by the surface and depths of woodland pools, is added the 

 flving insects of the forest home, and the tender shoots and leaves of plants in 

 spring. Acorns are a favorite food in fall, and upon these the birds sometimes 

 stuff themselves to repletion. 



Most curious are the nesting habits, w-ith wdiich our fathers in some of the 

 older States were almost as familiar as we are with those of Robins. The 

 birds arrive mated in early spring, and in later A])ril, ]\Iay, or early June, 

 according to latitude, a site is chosen in the hollow of a liroken branch of a 



