v^ -- 



WOOD DUCK. 



SUMMER DUCK. 

 AlX SPONSA. 



Char. Upper parts dark brown, varied with black ; head and crest 

 metallic green and purple; lines of white above and behind the eyes; 

 throat white ; breast chestnut, with spots of white ; under parts white, 

 flanks with fine waved lines of black ; black and white crescents in front 

 of shoulder ; wings glossed with purple and green, and tipped with white ; 

 bill red, black, and white ; legs yellow. Female mostly grayish brown, 

 and duller than the male ; throat and patch around the eye white. Length 

 17 to 19 inches. 



Nest. In a hollow tree ; made of twigs and grass lined with down. 



Eggs. 8-14; pale buff or creamy ; average size 2.10 X 1.60. 



This most beautiful of Ducks seems to be dressed in a" 

 studied attire, to which the addition of a flowing crest adds a 

 finish of pecuUar elegance ; and hence Linnaeus has dignified 

 the species with the title of sponsa, or the bride. This splen- 

 did bird is peculiar to America, but extends its residence from 

 the cold regions of Hudson Bay, in the 54th parallel, to Mexico 



