(CMAPTEIR X 



OF the great order Anseres the family Anatida 

 contains a couple of hundred species which have 

 been grouped in five sub-families, viz. : the swans 

 (Cygnince] ; the geese (Anserine) ; the sea-ducks 

 (Fuligulinez) ; the river-ducks (Anatina] ; and the 

 fish-eating ducks (MergimK\ Among the river- 

 ducks are found valuable and beautiful species, 

 yet none more daintily arrayed than the wood or 

 summer duck (Aix sponsa). 



From Asiatic waters has come a small web-footed 

 fop whose garb suggests a blending of Chinese and 

 Japanese sartorial art. He is no mean rival of the 

 wood-duck, and the same might be said of the rare 

 and lovely Harlequin ; yet if perfect specimens of the 

 males of all three species lay side by side, in most 

 eyes the wood-duck surely would find the most 

 favor. 



As is the case with so many other species, the 

 male wood-duck sports all the finery in his family. 

 By this is not meant that his trim small spouse is a 

 bit of a dowdy, for that would be far from the truth. 

 She is as dainty and tidy a wee madam as one could 

 desire to see, but she is wise withal, and the 

 Quakerish simplicity of her dress might well be 



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