326 FEATHERED GAME 



a dull dusky yellow, webs even darker. Even 

 though plainer in dress than her mate she is 

 withal a beautiful duck. 



The length of this species averages from 

 eighteen to twenty inches; extent from twenty- 

 six to twenty-eight inches. 



The Wood Duck is said to breed readily in 

 captivity and to be easily domesticated. It 

 should surely become very popular among 

 breeders of fancy fowl because of its beautiful 

 plumage if for no other reason. 



THE EED-HEAD. 



(Aythya americana.) 



Not often is the Bed-head taken in northern 

 New England waters; a little more common 

 along the southern coast, and gradually in- 

 creasing in numbers southward until in the 

 Chesapeake and Delaware bays it is one of the 

 commonest of the ducks. It is found during 

 some season of the year more or less abun- 

 dantly all over North America and is every- 

 where held in highest esteem. 



The breeding birds are generally at home in 

 the far north, mainly to the west and northwest 



