100 RIVER DUCKS. 



Nest^ of grasses, leaves, moss, etc., lined with down, in a hollow tree or 

 stump near water. Eygs^ eight to ten, butfy white, 2'10 x 1-75, 



According to Ernest E. Thompson, both the preceding species fre- 

 quent chiefly " living " or running water, while this bird prefers '' dead " 

 waters, or quiet ponds and lakes. In Florida it lives in small ponds in 

 the hummocks, where one expects to find Wood Ducks, and feeds on 

 roots, seeds, etc. It visits also the lakes frequented by Black Ducks, 

 Mallards, and other AnatincB. The male is a striking bird in life, and 

 can not be mistaken for any other species. 



Subfamily Anatince. River and Pond Ducks. 



The Ducks of this subfamily are distinguished by the absence of a 

 lobe on the hind toe. They are, for the most part, northern breeding 

 birds, and appear on our waters chiefly as migrants. At this time they 

 differ but little in habits, and as a rule frequent sluggish streams, 

 shallow ponds, arms of bays, and marshes. In comparison with the 

 deep-water Fuligidinm they might be called " dabblers " or " tip-ups," 

 and any one who has seen them dabbling along the shore, or with up- 

 turned tail and head immersed probing the bottom in shallow water, 

 like a flock of animated tenpins, will recognize the appropriateness of 

 these terms. They feed upon mollusks, crustaceans, insects and their 

 larvae, seeds and roots of aquatic plants. The " gutters " on the sides 

 of the bill act as strainers, and, after probing the bottom, the mere act 

 of closing the bill forces out the mud and water taken in with the food. 

 As a rule, they feed more commonly by night than by day. 



They do not gather in such large flocks as the Sea Ducks, and in 

 our waters are generally found in groups of less than fifty. 



They spring from the water at a bound, and on whistling wing are 

 soon beyond the fowler's reach. Their speed is variously estimated for 

 different species at a hundred to a hundred and sixty miles an hour. 

 Doubtless the first-named distance is nearer the truth. 



Their nest is composed of twigs, rootlets, grasses, leaves, moss, 

 feathers, etc., lined with down from the breast of the incubating bird. 

 All our species, except the Wood Duck, place their nest on the ground, 

 generally in grassy sloughs or marshes, but sometimes in dry places 

 some distance from the water. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



I. Wing under 8-50. 



a. Lesser wing-coverts gray. 



139. Green-winged Teal. 138. European Teal. 



b. Lesser wing-coverts blue. 



b^. Cheeks slate-color, a broad white mark near the front of the face. 



140. Blue-winged Teal ( 6 ad.). 



