CLASS AVES 



603 



The screamers (Family PALAMEDEID.E) are all natives of South 

 America. The family ANATID^E contains about two hundred 

 and ten species of duck-like birds which are aquatic or semi- 

 aquatic in habits, and cosmopolitan in distribution. 



There are five North American subfamilies of the ANATID^E: 

 (i) the swans, CYGNIN.E; (2) the geese, ANSERINE; (3) the river- 

 ducks, ANATIN^E; (4) the sea-ducks, FULIGULIN.^; and (5) the 

 mergansers, MERGING. 



The most beautiful of all our ducks is the wood duck, Aix 

 sponsa (Fig. 492). This bird ranges over the entire United 

 States. Its favor- 

 ite haunts are the 

 smaller streams, 

 lakes, and ponds. 

 The eggs, from 

 six to fifteen in 

 number, are laid 

 in cavities in the 

 trunks or limbs of 

 trees. The wood- 

 duck is one of our 

 game-birds that 

 is decreasing so 

 rapidly in num- 

 bers that it seems 

 on the verge of 



extinction, and drastic action must be taken by the federal and 

 state governments if this species is not to vanish entirely. 



Order 15. Falconiformes. FALCON-LIKE BIRDS. These 

 diurnal birds of prey possess, in most cases, powerful wings, a 

 stout, hooked bill with a cere at the base, and strong toes armed 

 with sharp claws. The order is divided into the CATHARTID^E, 

 or American vultures, the GYPOGERANID.E, or secretary-birds, 

 the FALCONID^:, or falcons, and the BUTEONID.E, or eagles, 

 hawks, kites, etc. 



FIG. 492. Wood-duck, Aix sponsa. 



