932 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



being rare and those of from five to twenty much more 

 numerous. They migrate earlier than the diving ducks, 

 most of them having left the Northern States by the time 

 the ponds and marshes have frozen. They winter from 

 North Carolina to the Gulf and some species go as far as 

 northern South America. The dabbling ducks are like- 

 wise called river ducks and summer ducks. 



The diving ducks, sea ducks or winter ducks, on the 

 other hand, often occur in flocks of several thousand and 



A CANADA 

 GOOSE FEED- 

 ING IN SHAL- 

 LOW WATER 



THE PROGENITOR OF OUR DOMESTIC 

 DUCKS A WILD MALLARD DRAKE IN 

 BREEDING PLUMAGE 



All the breeds of domestic ducks except the 

 muscovy are thought to be descended from 

 this bird. (The photographs of ducks on the 

 plank are of wild birds in captivity.) 



feed in deep water, often far from land, 

 for they dive readily and secure their 

 food of molluscs, or the roots and buds 

 of aquatic plants in water up to ioo or 

 150 feet deep. They are not influenced 

 by the freezing of the marshes and 

 shallow water, therefore, and migrate 

 later in the fall and winter further 

 north than the others. They are less 

 exposed than the dabbling ducks to enemies while feed- 

 ing and, therefore, feed more during the day than at 

 night. They are better adapted for diving than the dab- 

 blers, having larger feet, stockier bodies, shorter necks 

 and shorter wings, characteristics which enable one, 

 when familiar with them, to distinguish the two groups 

 of ducks on the wing at a considerable distance. On the 

 water, the diving ducks rest lower and do not hold their 

 tails so high from the water as do the dabblers. 



THE SWANS 



Of the eight species of swans, there are two found in 

 North America. Both species are pure white, except 

 for the black bill and feet and a yellow spot between the 

 eye and bill that distinguishes the whistling swan from the 

 trumpeter. Both resemble very closely the domesticated 

 swan of ornamental ponds which has been derived from 

 the European mute swan and which can always be identi- 

 fied by the hump or knob on its bill. The trumpeter swan 



is today one of the rarest of North American birds if, 

 indeed, it is not extinct in the wild state. A few individ- 

 uals are still living in captivity. The whistling swan still 

 holds its own in a few places, now that it is protected by 

 law, and every winter large flocks congregate on Cur- 

 rituck Sound and a few other good feeding areas. Jn 

 summer the whistling swan retires to the barren grounds 

 to breed where it is said to be very conspicuous on its 

 nest but it is able to defend itself against all enemies up 

 to the size of a fox. 



Swans are noisy birds and when feeding or disporting 

 themselves, their loud clarion-like notes can sometimes 

 be heard for several miles. They can swim very rapidly 

 and outdistance a man rowing a boat so that they do not 

 take wing unless hard pressed. On the wing swans 

 are easily distinguished by their large size, long necks 

 and pure white plumage, not even the flight feathers 

 being dark. 



THE GEESE 



Of the twenty-five species of geese in the world, 

 eight are found in North America, of which the Canada 

 goose is the most abundant and best 

 known. Canada geese nest from north- 

 ern United States northward to the limit 

 of trees and winter from the Great Lakes 

 southward to the Gulf. Their comings 

 and goings are the most conspicuous 

 bird migrations that we have. We hear 

 their loud honking long before we see 

 them as they travel high over head in a 

 great wedge or Y led probably by an 

 old gander. They migrate both by day 



THE MALLARD DRAKE IN "ECLIPSE PLUMAGE" 



The plumage is worn during July and August while the flight feathers 

 are being replaced. It corresponds to the winter plumage of other 

 birds. 



and by night and sometimes on foggy nights apparently 

 get lost and are attracted by the city lights and swing 

 low over the house tops honking loud enough to waken 

 even the most torpid. 



On their migrations they are great vegetarians and are 

 fond of grazing on the young wheat both in the spring 

 and in the fall. In the south on their wintering grounds, 



