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generally found amongst the ornamental ornithological curiosities of 

 museums. The wood duck ariives here early in April and remains 

 until the end of October. Solitary birds may, however, be seen at a 

 later period. It breeds in this country, building its nest in a hollow 

 tree, to which the same birds, if unmolested, will retui-n year after year. 

 It derives its name of wood duck from this peculiarity, as well as from 

 its habit of pex'ching on the branches of trees and on the tops of 

 rampikes. This singularity in the character of an aquatic bird is 

 noticeable during the breeding season more than at any other time. 

 These ducks are seldom, perhaps never, seen on trees in the fall of the 

 year. The female boasts of none of the elegant plumage of the male, 

 being simply of a daik brown colour on the back and wings, with 

 white breast and belly in adult birds. She has, however, all the 

 tongue to herself. Her tongue is the loudest and most musical of any 

 duck known in Canada, In their habits, wood ducks are very similar 

 to black ducks, being frequently found feeding together. In common 

 with all non-diving ducks, they feed close to the shore in shallow water. 

 I have often seen them on land, acres away from the water, in seai-ch of 

 beech nuts and acorns, of both of which they are exceedingly fond. 

 They are not so wary and difficult to approach as the black duck or the 

 golden eye, although they are constantly on the lookout for danger. In 

 common with all non-divexs, the wood duck is fond of wild lice. In 

 the evenings, in September especially, large numbei'S of them resort to 

 the rice fields to be found in different i>laces on the Ottawa Rivei-^, 

 when they are shot, and shot at, from boats, canoes, and muskrat houses 

 as they arrive. The flight begins between sundown and dark, and flock 

 follows flock in rapid succession, occasionally until after midnight. 

 Were it not — and very properly so — in direct contravention of the 

 Game Act, excellent sport might be had on a clear moonlight night, as 

 they fly in, perfectly regardless of the noise made by the gun. Having 

 fed throughout the night, the birds leave the rice before daylight next 

 morning to fly to their usual places of resort for miles around ; those 

 only remaining about the place which had been hatched in the vicinity. 

 Although the wood duck never dives when feeding, it is, nevertheless, 

 a cunning and active diver when wounded. It is a fact also well 

 known to sportsmen acquainted with the habits of ducks, that this bird. 



