14 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWnI^[ERS — ANSERES. 



Wilson narrates that on the 18th of May he visited a tree containing a nest of a 

 Sunnucr Duck, on the banks of Tuckahoe River, New Jersey. This tree stood on 

 a declivity twenty yards from the water; and in its liollow and broken top, about six 

 feet down, on the soft decayed wood, were thirteen eggs covered with down from the 

 mother's breast. The eggs were of an exact oval shape, tlie surface finely polished 

 and Kne grained, of a yellowish color, resend)ling old polished ivory, and measured U.lli 

 by l.no inches. This tree had been occupied by tlie sanui jtair, during the breeding- 

 time, for four successive years. Wilson's informant, who lived within twenty yards 

 of the tree, had seen the female, the s{)ring preceding, carry down thirteen young, 

 one by one, in less than ten minutes. She caught them in her bill by the wing or 

 the back of the neck, and landed them safely at the foot of the tree, and finally led 

 them to the water. In evidence of the unwillingness of this species to abaiulon its 

 breeding-i)lace, Wilson mentions that uiuler this tree a large sloop lay on the stocks, 

 its deck not nu)re than ten feet distant from the nest. Notwithstanding the pres- 

 ence and noise of the workmen, the Ducks would not abandon their old home, but 

 continued to pass out and in, as if no person were near. While the female was lay- 

 ing, and afterward, when she was sitting, the male usually perched on an adjoining 

 limb, and kept watch. The common note of the drake was pect-pect, and when, stand- 

 ing sentinel, he apprehended danger, he nuule a noise not unlike the crowing of a 

 young cock, oe-exJc. 



The Wood Duck has been repeatedly tamed and partially domesticated, and of 

 this statenu'nt there are many well-attested cases on record. My own attempts to 

 effect this, however, have been unsuccessful, the old birds remaining wild, and not 

 breeding. Wilson was informed of an instance where a resident near Guni)owdcr 

 Creek liad a yard swarming with Wood Ducks which Avere coni2)letely domesticated. 

 Audubon also gives an interesting account of his attempts to tame and domesticate 

 this Duck, in which he so far succeeded that the birds bred within his ground.s, 

 in boxes. The wild ducklings when taken were put in the bottom of empty flour- 

 barrels ; but he soon found that they could raise themselves from the bottom to the 

 brim by moving a few inches at a time up the side, lifting foot after foot, by nuiaus 

 of their diminutive hooked claws, when they would tumble over, and run in every 

 direction. They fed freely on corn-meal soaked in water, and, as they grew, caught 

 flies with great expertness. 



The Wood Duck is conspicuous for the swiftness, ease, and elegance of its flight. 

 It can i)ass through woods, and among the branches of trees, with as much facility 

 as the Wild Pigeon. W^hile flying it is rarely ever heard to utter any cry. 



Audubon states that this Duck usually pairs about the flrst of March in Louisiana, 

 but sonu'times a fortnight earlier. He has never known one to nest either on the 

 ground or in tlie branches of trees. For three successive years a i)air near Heiuler- 

 son, Ky., occupied the abandoned hole of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The eggs 

 were from six to fifteen in number, according to the age of the bird, and were placed 

 on dry plants, feathers, and a scanty portion of down from the breast of the female. 

 He also states that the latter is abandoned by the male as soon as she begins to 

 incubate. This, however, is not in accordance with the statement of Wilson, and 

 probably is not correct. In most of the nests examined by Audubon there were 

 found quantities of feathers belonging to other si)ecies, including the Domestic Fowl, 

 Wild Geese, and Turkeys. At an early age the young answer to the call of their 

 parent with a mellow 2'<!c-j>ee-2>ee, often repeated. The cry of the mother is soft, low, 

 and prolonged, resembling the syllables pSe-ee. 



In the summer of 18G7 Mr, Boardumn, of St. Stephen — as he informs me — was 



