936 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



only their feet which are much larger than in the dab- 

 bling ducks. Their feet are likewise set farther back 

 so that when on land they stand more erect or rest on 

 their breasts and walk with difficulty. In nesting they 

 prefer the marshes so that they can slip from their nests 

 into the water without having to walk on dry land. With 

 the exception of the ruddy duck they are northern breed- 



BLACK DUCKS WINTERING WITH CANVASBACKS ON CAYUGA 



The Black ducks are dabbling ducks, the canvasbacks divers. Note that 

 the blacks rest higher on the water and hold their tails up from the water. 



ing ducks, nesting from the northern tier of states 

 northward. 



The choicest of all the diving ducks is the canvasback, 

 so-called from the white back of the male. The back of 

 the female is gray and the head and neck cinnamon 

 brown instead of rufous as in the male. A somewhat 

 similar species is the redhead whose head is brighter red 

 and whose back is grayer, not to mention other differ- 



A RED HEAD AMONG THE CANVASBACKS AND SCAUP DUCKS 



The Redhead is following a female Canvasback in the center of the 

 picture. Note the difference in profiles. 



ences. The long bill and sloping profile of the canvas- 

 back is a good distinguishing mark in any plumage for 

 it can be distinguished at a considerable distance. The 

 reputation of the canvasback has been gained largely 

 frrough its habit of feeding upon wild celery (Valisneria) 

 yhich is believed to impart a pleasant flavor. 



Other ducks of this group are the greater and lesser 

 scaup ducks, blue bills, broad bills or black heads as 

 they are variously called, the ring-necked duck, the 

 curious little ruddy duck with its upturned tail, the two 

 species of golden-eyes and the bufflehead (which nest in 

 trees, the scoters or sea coots of three species, and the 

 four species of eider ducks from which conies the eider 

 down of commerce. 



The Laborador duck, another of the diving group, 

 which formerly occurred in numbers along the Atlantic 

 coast, in winter, as far south as New Jersey, is now ex- 

 tinct. The last specimen of this species was taken in 



SCAUP DUCK FEEDING AT THE EDGE OF THE ICE 



The males have the white flanks the females the white at the base of 



the bill. 



1871 but the cause of its extinction is not known. It 

 is suggestive, however, of what may occur to many others 

 of our ducks if constant watchfulness is not maintained 

 to adjust the protective laws to any decrease that may 

 occur. The wild fowl are a great asset to the nation 

 and we can ill afford to lose them. We must, therefore, 

 keep up a constant vigilance to see that our laws give 

 them all the protection they need and that these laws 

 are respected and enforced. 



CANVASBACKS WINTERING ON CAYUGA 



There are a few Scaup ducks in the background. A Canvasback in the 

 foreground is in the act of diving. 



