AQUATIC FOWL. 173 



called the wood duck, from the circumstance of its breeding in 

 hollow trees; and the summer duck, from remaining with us 

 chiefly during the summer. It is familiarly known in every 

 quarter of the United States, from Florida to Lake Ontario, in 

 the neighbourhood of which latter place I have myself met with 

 it in October. It rarely visits the sea shore, or salt marches, its 

 favourite haunts being the solitary, deep, and muddy creeks, 

 ponds, and mill-dams of the interior, making its nest frequently 

 in old, hollow trees that overhang the water. 



"The summer duck seldom flies in flocks of more than three 

 or four individuals together, and most commonly in pairs, or 

 singly. The common note of the drake is peet, peet ; but when, 

 standing sentinal, he sees danger, he makes a noise not unlike the 

 crowing of a young cock, oe eek 1 oe eek I Their food consists 

 principally of acorns, seeds of the wild oats, and insects. Their 

 flesh is inferior to that of the blue- winged teal. They are fre- 

 quent in the markets of Philadelphia. 



" Among other gaudy feathers with which the Indians orna- 

 ment the calumet or pipe of peace, the skin of the head and 

 neck of the summer duck is frequently seen covering the stem. 



"This beautiful bird has often been tamed, and soon becomes 

 so familiar as to permit one to stroke its back with the hand. I 

 have seen individuals so tamed in various parts of the Union. 

 Captain Boyer, collector of the port of Havre de Grace, informs 

 me, that about forty years ago, a Mr. Nathan Nicols, who lived 

 on the west side of Gunpowder Creek, had a whole yard swar- 

 ming with summer ducks, which he had tamed and completely 

 domesticated, so that they bred and were as familiar as any other 

 tame fowls ; that he (Captain Boyer) himself saw them in that 

 state, but does not know what became of them. Latham says 

 ., that they are often kept in European menageries, and will breed 

 there. 



"The wood duck is nineteen inches in length, and two feet 

 four inches in extent ; bill, red, margined with black ; a spot of 

 black lies between the nostrils, reaching nearly to the tip, which 

 is also of the same colour, and furnished with a large, hooked nail ; 

 irides, orange red ; front, crown, and pendant crest, rich glossy 

 bronze green, ending in violet, elegantly marked with a line of 

 pure white running from the upper mandible over the eye, and 

 with another band of white proceeding from behind the eye, both 

 mingling their long, pendent plumes with the green and violet 

 ones, producing a rich effect ; cheeks and sides of the upper 

 neck, violet ; chin, throat, and" collar round the neck, pure 



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