70 JilUDS OK NoIiTII CaHOLINA 



was found ill a Imllow ])im'-ti'i'c stump twenty t('<'t from the j^round. In this 

 instan<(' the ciitranco to the nest was throuy;h the top. In Florida, I once found 

 a nost of this species in a hole excavated by a Flicker, one and one-half miles from 

 the nearest body of water. In the breeding season, when the birds are RoiiiR to and 

 from their nest, the female always leads, llyinfj usunll\- a lew >:irds in advance 

 of her mate. 



"Wood Ducks are choice food, antl as a result of their constant persecution are 

 rapidly becoming exterminated in many parts of the State, a fate doubtless lieing 

 hastened by the draininp; of ]ionds and swamps. Their numbers are so reduced 

 that, in my ojiinion, their killing should be jirohibited by law at all times. 



"From the time the little ones reach the water until they are able to fly, there 

 are few birds more skilled in making themselves invisible on the a]ii)roach of danger. 

 Swinnning with neck outstretched and head fiat on the surface, slipping as quietly 

 as a snake among the lily-jiads and water-grasses, or diving, if surprised in the 

 open, a young Wood Duck is not easily seen and is nnich less ea.sily captured. 



"Observers scmmu to agree that the young are usually taken from the nest to the 

 water in the bill of the parent." — I'k.vhson. 



Genus Marila lOken) 



This genus comprises five sjM'cies of vuv sea- or dix'ing-dueks, foui' of tiiem being 

 among the best Jcnown of all our spi'cies. 



1. Hill mil wilier toward i-ml than at. base: male with head .and neck reddisli. See 2. 



1. Hill wider toward end than at li.a.se; male with head and neck black. 8oe 3. 



'J. Hill much shorter than middli' toi" without cluw. licJIicad. 



'2. Hill as loiiji; as middle toe without claw. Canvasback. 



•i. S|ieciihim bhiish gray. liiiKj-iurkcd Duck. 



3. Specnliiin white. See 4. 



4. Flanks white, tinmarked; size larger, wing 8.2.5 or more. Samp Duck. 



4. Flunks zigzagged with blackish; smaller; wing S.'2't or less. Lesser Scaup Duck. 



52. Marila americana (Kt/l.). Kediie.\d. 



.•1(/. I.'.- Ue.id ami throat, bright rufous; lower neck, breast, back of neck anil upper back 

 black; rest of back and scapulars linely barred with wavy black and white lini's of equal wulth; 

 wing-covcrts brownish gray; upper tail-coverts black; belly white, lower belly more or less 

 finely barreil with black; under tail-coverts lilack; sides like back. Ad. 9. — I'ppcrparts d.ark 

 grayish brown, darker on nuup, the feathers more or less miirgineil with huffy or lusliy; sides 

 of head lighter; upper throat white; neck bulTv ocliraceous ; brciist and sities grayish brown, 

 niore or less washed or margined with bnlTy or bnlTy oehraceous; belly while; lower belly and 

 \inder tail-coverts tinged with oehraceous; an indistinct bluLsh-gi-ay band aexoss end of bill. 

 L., l'.».(H); W.. S.ilO; Tar., 1..')."): H., I.S."). 



/I'cHmiA-.f. — 'I'his species is frequent 1\- confused with the Canvasback, from which it may be 

 distinguished by the characters given uiidi'r that species. 



The female Itedhcad suggests the female Uing-neck in coloration, but the latter is browner, 

 and thev can be also distins'uishcd with certainty by the diflferencc in their size. (Chap., 

 limho/E.N. A.) 



liiuKjc. — -North America, breeds from northern United States northward, winters from Mary- 

 land to Mexico. 



Range in Xorlh Carolina. — Coastal region in winter. 



To the market-hunter of the North (^'arolina coast the U(>dhead is an exceedingly 

 iniporttmt bird. Coming, as it does, in immense flocks in the early auttnnn and 

 remaining usually throughout the winter, the fine quality of the flesh and the oppor- 



