65 



Field Marks. Hood of the male and reddish crest and size of the female. 

 Nesting. In hollow trees. 



Distribution. Across the continent but scarcer in the east than in the interior. Breeds 

 locally wherever found in Canada. 



The Hooded Merganser is a bird of the interior, of quiet ponds and 

 woodland streams. It is the most edible of the Mergansers; this fact, 

 combined with the clearing of the forests and too little restriction on 

 shooting, is probably the cause of its growing scarcity to-day. 



Economic Status. It is doubtful if any serious charge can be substan- 

 tiated against the Hooded Merganser. 



Subfamily Anatince. River and Pond Ducks. 



General Description. Typical ducks with flattened spatulate bill furnished with 

 flat nail tip and straining laminae or plates along the inner margins (Figure 8, p. 19) in- 

 stead of tooth-like projections (Figure 7, p. 19) . Feet with a small though well formed hind 

 toe, not modified into a flat lobe or fin-like appendage. 



Distinctions. Bill will separate the River Ducks from the Mergansers and the hind 

 toe as above from the Sea Ducks. 



Field Marks. Under the most favourable conditions of view the bill will separate 

 the Anatince from the Mergansers. The greater length of neck and more slender bodies are 

 slight and rather uncertain guides to separate them from the Sea or Bay Ducks. The 

 members of the subfamily are "more easily recognized in life by species than as a class. 



Nesting. On ground with the exception of the Wood Duck. 



Distribution. As a class the Pond and River Ducks are more abundant in the interior 

 than on either coast. 



As their name implies, the River and Pond Ducks frequent our smaller 

 inland waters more than they do the larger ones. They feed from the 

 surface by "tipping" and reaching under the water. The food is gathered 

 in the bill and the water squeezed out, the laminae of the bills retaining the 

 solid portions. 



Economic Status. They are strictly water birds and vegetable and 

 insect feeders, consequently their food habits are not a menace. It has 

 lately been shown that Ducks feed largely upon mosquito larvae and that 

 the good they may do in this direction is of surprising magnitude. By 

 actual experiment a pair of ducks in a small pond did more to reduce these 

 pests in it than a considerable school of goldfish. As game, they are of 

 great importance, see p. 12. 



132. Mallard. GREEN-HEAD. GREY DUCK. PR. LE CANARD ORDINAIRE. Anas 

 platyrhynchos. L, 23. Plate III B. 



Distinctions. The male cannot be mistaken for any other wild duck though many 

 domestic strains approach it closely. The female is often regarded as belonging to another 

 species and is sometimes called Grey Duck. There are several other ducks approaching 

 her in coloration but the purple speculum with the white bar both before and behind the 

 speculum will always distinguish her. 



Field Marks. Green head and white neck ring are conspicuous recognition marks for 

 the male. The speculum with its white bars will identify the female in life. Her tail has 

 also a general whiteness in flight that is quite characteristic. 



testing. On ground usually, in high grass or reeds not far from water, though occasion- 

 ally at considerable distance inland. 



Distribution. Distributed over practically the whole of Canada but less common in 

 the extreme east. Breeds throughout Canada except where disturbed by settlement. 



This is the "Wild Duck" par excellence, and is known as such to the 

 sportsman of the Old World as well as the New. It is the original stock 



