172 



RIVER AND POND DUCKS 



consume a higher percentage 

 of animal food (41 per cent) 

 than do any of the other Sur- 

 face-feeding Ducks, the Shov- 

 eller following with 34 per 

 cent. An analysis of the con- 

 tents of 48 stomachs of these 

 two varieties gave the follow- 

 ing approximate percentages; 

 Grasses, 29; smartweeds, 10; 

 seeds and tubers of sedges, 6; 

 lilies and coontail, 3; seeds of 

 pondweeds and widgeon 

 grass, 2; miscellaneous plant 

 food, 9; total vegetable mat- 

 ter, 59 per cent. Molluscs, 27; 

 insects, 8; crustaceans, 3; 

 fishes, 3; total animal food, 

 41 per cent. 



The nest is always on the 

 ground, usually near water 

 but frequently as much as 

 300 yards away. It is formed 

 of grass and other material 

 with a rim of down from the 

 mother's breast. Placed under a palmetto or other sheltering bush or 

 canopied by the standing grass, the eggs are not visible from above. 

 The usual clutch is from 8 to 10 eggs, similar to those of the Black Duck, 

 creamy or greenish white in colour and averaging 2.24 by 1.74 inches. 

 Since the Florida Duck occupies its restricted range in both winter 

 and summer and there is no migration, it is not of general interest to the 

 gunners of this continent. It receives adequate attention in this regard 

 from local nimrods, however, and a toll large enough, if not too large, 

 is taken of these birds in the hunting season. 



