NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 67 



coast, and south to the Isthmus of Panama and to Cuba, breeding from 

 the Northern States northward throughout the Fur Countries to Alaska, 

 and in Greenland. It is abundant in the United States during the 

 spring and fall migrations. In the vicinity of Los Angeles, California, 

 Mr. Shields says it is very abundant during the entire winter, and a few 

 remain to breed. The place usually selected for the nest is in tall 

 bunches of prairie grass, seldom far from water. The number of eggs 

 laid is commonly eight or nine ; these are deposited about the middle 

 of May. If the eggs are taken the bird will immediately deposit a 

 second set, which is seldom more than five or six in number. 



The male bird, inclusive of the long central tail-feathers, is about 

 twenty-nine inches long; the general color of the upper parts is gray- 

 ish, delicately penciled with white ; either sex may be known by the 

 very long and slender neck, but the female is shorter, being about 

 twenty-two inches long, the central tail feathers making a difference 

 of seven inches. 



In the far north this species deposits as many as twelve eggs in a 

 single nest. These are of a dull grayish olive ; elongate ellipsoidal in 

 shape and measure from 2.10 to 2.30 long by about 1.52 broad. 



144. Aix sponsa (Linn.) [613.] 



Wood Duck. 



Hab. Temperate North America, breeding throughout its range. 



An exquisite bird, the most beautiful of all our ducks ; in fact, no 

 description can give a sufficient conception of the variety and lustre of 

 its plumage. It is crested, the head iridescent green and purple, with 

 parallel curved white superciliary and post-ocular stripes and a broad 

 white throat ^atch. The iris and edges of eyelids are red. In the fe- 

 male the head is mostly gray. A freshly-killed specimen has all the 

 variegated tints to be seen in the rain-bow. It is well-named Bridal 

 Duck. It inhabits North America at large and is especially abundant 

 in the United States, breeding almost wherever found. Frequents 

 the wooded portions of the country near water. The nest is made in 

 the hollow of decayed trees, often at the depth of four to six feet. It 

 is composed of twigs, weeds or grass, warmly lined with the down from 

 breast of the bird. What is remarkable about the entrance to the nest 

 is, that it is often so small that it would seem almost impossible for the 

 bird to pass in and out. 



The tree in which the nest is made is frequently situated a consid- 

 erable distance from water in some retired place. The young are car- 

 ried to water in the bill of the parent bird. The eggs number from 

 eight to twelve, and I have seen several sets of fourteen ; they are of 



