65 
Field Marks. Hood of the male and reddish crest and size of the female. 
Nesting. In hollow trees. 
Distribution. Across the continent but scarcer in the east than in the interior. Breeds 
locally wherever found in Canada. 
The Hooded Merganser is a bird of the interior, of quiet ponds and 
woodland streams. It is the most edible of the Mergansers; this fact, 
combined with the clearing of the forests and too little restriction on 
shooting, is probably the cause of its growing scarcity to-day. 
Economic Status. It is doubtful if any serious charge can be substan- 
tiated against the Hooded Merganser. 
Subfamily—A natine. River and Pond Ducks. 
General Description. Typical ducks with flattened spatulate bill furnished with 
flat nail tip and straining lamine or plates along the inner margins (Figure 8, p. 19) in- 
stead of tooth-like projections (Figure 7, p. 19). Feet with a small though well formed hind 
toe, not modified into a flat lobe or fin-like appendage. 
Distinctions. Bill will separate the River Ducks from the Mergansers and the hind 
toe as above from the Sea Ducks. 
Field Marks. Under the most favourable conditions of view the bill will separate 
the Anatine from the Mergansers. The greater length of neck and more slender bodies are 
slight and rather uncertain guides to separate them from the Sea or Bay Ducks. The 
members of the subfamily are more easily recognized in life by species than as a class. 
Nesting. On ground with the exception of the Wood Duck. 
Distribution. As a class the Pond and River Ducks are more abundant in the interior 
than on either coast. 
As their name implies, the River and Pond Ducks frequent our smaller 
inland waters more than they do the larger ones. They feed from the 
surface by ‘‘tipping’’ and reaching under the water. The food is gathered 
in the bill and the water squeezed out, the lamine of the bills retaining the 
solid portions. 
Economic Status. They are strictly water birds and vegetable and 
insect feeders, consequently their food habits are not a menace. It has 
lately been shown that Ducks feed largely upon mosquito larve and that 
the good they may do in this direction is of surprising magnitude. By 
actual experiment a pair of ducks in a small pond did more to reduce these 
pests in it than a considerable school of goldfish. As game, they are of 
great importance, see p. 12. 
132. Mallard. GREEN-HEAD. GREY DUCK. FR.—LE CANARD ORDINAIRE. Anas 
platyrhynchos. LL, 23. Plate III B. 
Distinctions. The male cannot be mistaken for any other wild duck though many 
domestic strains approach it closely. The female is often regarded as belonging to another 
species and is sometimes called Grey Duck. There are several other ducks approaching 
her in coloration but the purple speculum with the white bar both before and behind the 
speculum will always distinguish her. 
Field Marks. Green head and white neck ring are conspicuous recognition marks for 
the male. The speculum with its white bars will identify the female in life. Her tail has 
also a general whiteness in flight that is quite characteristic. 
Nesting. On ground usually, in high grass or reeds not far from water, though occasion- 
ally at considerable distance inland. 
Distribution. Distributed over practically the whole of Canada but less common in 
the extreme east. Breeds throughout Canada except where disturbed by settlement. 
This is the “‘ Wild Duck”’ par excellence, and is known as such to the 
sportsman of the Old World as well as the New. It is the original stock 
