CLASS II. xVVES: ORDER 8. NATATORES. 



319 



ENGLISH TEAL. (See p. 317.) 



"The Summer Duck seldom flies in flocks of more than three or four individuals together, and 

 most commonly in puirs, or singly. The common note of the drake is peet, ijeet ; but when, 

 standing sentinel, he sees danger, he makes a noise not unlike the crowing of a young cock — 

 oe eelc! oe eeh ! Thtir food consists principally of acorns, seeds of the wild oats, and insects. 

 Their flesh is inferior to that of the hlue-winged teal. Among other gaudy feathers with which 

 the Indians ornament the calumet or pipe of peace, the skin of the head and neck of the summer 

 duck is frequently seen covering the stem. This beautiful bird has often been tamed, and soon 

 becomes so familiar as to permit one to stroke its back with the hand. I have seen individuals 

 so tamed in various parts of the Union." It is called Wood-Duck from breeding in hollow trees, 

 aiid Summer Duck from remaining with us during the summer. It rarely visits the sea-shore or 

 salt marshes, its favorite haunts being the solitary, deep, and muddy creeks, ponds, and mill-dams 

 of the interior. 



The Mandarin Duck, Fan-tail Duck, or Chinese Teal, A. fjalcriculaia^ is remarkable for 

 the brilliancy of its plumage, a fine green crest on the head, a fan-shaped tuft of feathers on the 

 back, and still more for its conjugal fidelity. It is said never to mate a second time. In regard 

 to this Mr. Davis furnishes the following particulars: "From an aviary containing a pair of 

 these birds at Macao, the drake happened one night to be stolen. The duck was perfectly incon- 

 solable, like Calypso after the departure of Ulysses. She retired into a corner, neglected her food 

 and person, refused all society, and rejected with disdain the proffer of a second love. In a few 

 days the purloined duck was recovered and brought back. The mutual demonstrations of joy 

 were excessive ; and what is more singular, the true husband, as if informed by his partner of 

 what had happened in his absence, pounced upon the would-be lover, tore out his eyes, and in- 

 jured him so much that he soon after died of his wounds." This species is domesticated in China 

 and Japan. 



The preceding are generally included under the genus Anas : the following, though distributed 

 in various genera, have nevertheless the general characteristics of the true ducks. 



Genus TADOR'N A: Tadorna. — This includes the European /S/if^mte. The Ruddy Shel- 

 drake, T. rutila., is twenty-six inches long, and distributed throughout Europe and Asia. Its 

 voice when flying is like a clarionet ; sometimes it cries like a peacock, and sometimes it clucks like 

 a hen. The Tartars say its flesh is poisonous ; Baron de Tott says he tasted of it and found it 



