218 



ZOOLOGY. 



ward to Scotland; it plucks it down from its breast, build- 

 ing with it a large loose warm nest under low bushes on the 

 sea-coast, where it lays three or four pale, dull green eggs. 

 With it is associated the rare king eider (Somateria specta- 

 bilis, Fig. 255, ^4). The canvas-back (FuMgulavattisneria) 

 feeds, as its specific name implies, on the wild celery (Val- 

 lisneria) on the middle Atlantic coast in winter, whence it 

 derives its delicious flavor. The summer duck (Aix spcnisa, 

 Fig. 256) breeds in trees. The original source of our do- 

 mestic duck is the mallard, or Anas boschas. It is known 



Fig. 257.-4, Barnacle Goose; B, White-fronted Goose. From Nordenskiold. 



to cross with various other species. Upward of fifty kinds 

 of hybrid ducks are recorded, some of which have proved 

 to be fertile. The black duck {Anas obscura) is abundant 

 on the shores of North-eastern America, and is frequently 

 brought into the market. The wild goose (Branta Cana- 

 densis) breeds in the Northern United States and in British 



America. While it usually breeds 

 on the shores of rivers, it has been 

 known in Colorado and Montana 

 to nest in trees. Allied to it is 

 the barnacle goose of Europe 

 (Branta leucopsis, Fig. 257, A), 

 which very rarely occurs in this 

 country; also the white-fronted 

 goo?e (Fig. 257, B), is an arctic 

 bird. The swans are character- 

 ized by their long necks, the trachea or wind-pipe being 

 remarkably long, especially in the trumpeter swan, where 



Fig. 258— Carolina Rail. 



