SEA DUCKS. 107 



The Pintail is frequently fonnd associated with the Black Duck 

 and Widgeon. As a rule it is voiceless, but is said to utter " a low- 

 toned quack at night." The long neck and tail of the male make its 

 identification easy even at a distance. 



144. Aix sponsa/ {Linn.). Wood Duck. Ad. 5 . — A line from the 

 bill over the eye, a siiiiilar Ihae at the base of the side of the crest, and some 

 of the elongated crest-feathers white ; throat, a band from it up the side of 

 the head, and a wider one to the nape, white ; rest of the cheeks and crown 

 green with purplish reflections; a white band in front of the wings ; breast 

 and a spot at either side of the base of the tail purplish chestnut, the former 

 spotted with white ; belly white ; sides bufty ocliraceous, linely barred with 

 black, the longer flank feathers tipped with wider bars of black and white ; 

 back greenish brown; scapulars blacker; speculum steel-blue; primaries 

 tipped with greenish blue. — Ad. 9 . — Throat and a stripe from the eye back- 

 ward white ; crown purplish brown ; sides of the head ashy brown ; breast 

 and sides grayish brown streaked with buffy ; belly white ; back olive-brown 

 glossed with greenish ; inner primaries tipped with greenish blue. Im. — The 

 im. $ resembles the 9. L., 18-50; W., 9-00 ; Tar., 1-35 ; B., 1-30. 



Range. — North America; breeds from Florida to Hudson Bay, and winters 

 southward to southern Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica. 



Washington, uncommon P. R. Long Island, uncommon T. V. and W. V., 

 Sept. to Apl. ; rare S. R. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R. Cambridge, 

 common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; Aug. to Nov. ; a few breed. 



Nest., of grasses, leaves, twigs, etc., in a hole in a tree or stump. Eggs., 

 eight to fourteen, pale bufi'y white, 2-05 x 1-50. 



Woodland ponds and forest-bordered streams make a proper setting 

 for the grace and beauty of these richly attired birds. Several times 

 it has been my fortune to see them in the unconscious enjoyment 

 of their secluded homes, and I know of no sight in the bird world 

 which so fully satisfies the eye. Alarm them, and with a frightened, 

 plaintive whistle, " oo-eek,'"' they spring from the water and make off 

 through the woods. At other times they will swim ahead of one's 

 canoe, and, rounding a bend in the stream, go ashore and walk rapidly 

 away. 



The young are brought from the nest to the ground in the bill of 

 the parent. 



Suhfamily FaligiUince. Bay and Sea Ducks. 



The members of this subfamily are to be distinguished from those 

 of the preceding by the presence of a lobe or web on the hind toe. 

 They are open-water Ducks, frequenting our large lakes, bays, and sea- 

 coasts. Their food consists chiefly of mollusks, crustaceans, and the 

 seeds and roots of aquatic plants. They obtain it principally by div- 

 ing, sometimes descending one hundred and fifty feet or more. The 



