3l8 SWIMMERS. 



and the Antilles. Throughout a great part of this vast space, 

 or at least as far south as Florida and the Mississippi Terri- 

 tory, the Summer Duck is known to breed. In the interior it 

 is also found in the State of Missouri and along the woody 

 borders and still streams which flow into most of the Great 

 Northwestern Lakes of the St. Lawrence. The Summer Duck — 

 so called from its constant residence in the United States — has 

 indeed but little predilection for the sea-coast, its favorite 

 haunts being the solitary, deep, and still waters, ponds, woody 

 lakes, and the mill-dams in the interior, making its nest often 

 in decayed and hollow trees impending ov^er the water. 



Though many migrate probably to the shores of the Mexi- 

 can Gulf, numbers pass the winter in the States south of Vir- 

 ginia. ELarly in February they are seen associated by pairs on 

 the inundated banks of the Alabama, and are frequent at the 

 same season in the waters of West Florida. In Pennsylvania 

 they usually nest late in April or early in May, choosing the 

 hollow of some broken or decayed tree, and sometimes even 

 constructing a rude nest of sticks in the forks of branches. 

 The eggs are yellowish white, rather less than those of the 

 Domestic Hen, and they are usually covered with down, prob- 

 ably plucked from the breast of the parent. The same tree is 

 sometimes occupied by the same pair for several successive 

 years in the breeding-season. The young, when hatched, are 

 carried down in the bill of the female, and afterwards con- 

 ducted by her to the nearest water. To these places, when 

 once selected, if not disturbed, they sometimes show a strong 

 predilection, and are not easily induced to forsake the prem- 

 ises, however invaded by noise and bustle. While the female 

 is sitting, the male is usually perched on some adjoining limb 

 of the same tree, keeping watch for their common safety. The 

 species is scarcely ever gregarious ; the birds are only seen in 

 pairs or by families. The common note of the Drake is peet, 

 peet ; but when at his post as sentinel, on espying danger, he 

 makes a sort of crowing noise, like ^hoo eek, ^hoo eek. 



The food of the Wood Duck consists principally of acorns, 

 the seeds of aquatic plants, such as those of the wild oat, etc., 



