DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



55 



Distribution. Northern hemisphere, breeding from Arizona, Missouri, 

 and Illinois northward ; migrating to Cuba and Panama. 



Nest. On the ground, in a well concealed depression ; lined with grass 

 and feathers. Eggs : 7 to 10, pale greenish to olive buff. 



The pintail is a common and widely distributed species, breeding 

 from southern California, Arizona, and Iowa north to Point Barrow. 

 In Kansas, Goss says, it haunts the wet prairies, muddy flats, and 

 edges of reedy, grassy waters, feeding largely on bulbous roots, 

 tender shoots, insects and their larvae, worms, snails, and, in the fall, 

 various seeds of water plants, grain, and acorns. At Point Reyes, 

 California, large flocks of the pintails were seen by J. A. Loring 

 lying out in the bay waiting for the tide to come in. As soon as it 

 covered the salt grass flats they would follow it in and go to feeding. 



GENUS AIX. 



144. Aix sponsa (Linn.). WOOD DUCK. 



Bill narrow, higher than wide at base. Both sexes with drooping crests. 

 Adult male: bill marked 

 with black, white, red, and 

 yellow ; head and crest 

 brilliant purple and green, 

 with white stripes ; throat 

 white ; chest rich chestnut, 

 with rows of white trian- 

 gles; sides gray, with black 

 and white bars and cres- 

 cents ; shoulder crossed by 

 black and white bars ; rest 

 of upper parts black, varied 

 with rich iridescent colors. 

 Adult female : head dull 

 grayish, glossed with green 

 on crest and crown ; sides 

 of head and throat white ; 

 chest brown, belly white ; 

 back richly glossed grayish 

 brown. Male .-length 19.00- 

 20.50, wing 9.00-9.50, bill 

 1.40. Female smaller. 



Distribution. Temperate North America, from southern Canada south- 

 ward. 



Nest. Usually 30 to 40 feet from the ground in the natural cavity of a 

 tree trunk, lined with down. Eggs : usually 8 to 14, creamy white. 



If the end of a rainbow had touched a marsh and dabbled its colors 

 over a plain brown duck, it could never have produced anything half 

 so brilliant as one of these old male wood ducks in full breeding 

 plumage. No wonder the handsome fellows are shy and deem it 

 prudent to keep hidden in crooked forest creeks or ponds surrounded 

 by tall grass, brush, and trees ! A mossy log in a pond is a favorite 



