SEA DUCKS. 



107 



inois 

 rrom 



fipt. 

 10; 



The Pintail is frequently found associated with the Bhicic Puck 

 and Widgeon. As a rule it is voiceless, but is said to utter "a low- 

 toned quack at night." The long neck and tail of the male make its 

 identification easy even at a distance. 



144« Alz sponsa (Linn.). Wood Duck. Ad. $. — A line from the 

 bill oviif the eyo, a similar line at tlie base of the Hide of the crest, and some 

 of tiie eloii;j:ated ereMt-feuthors wiiite ; throaty a band from it up the side of 

 the head, and a \vi<ler one to the naix', white ; rest of the cheeks and crown 

 preen with purplish retiections ; a white baud in front of the winj;s ; breast 

 and a spot at either siile of the base of the tail purplish chestnut, the former 

 spotted with wliite ; belly white ; sides buti'y ochraceous, tinely barred with 

 black, the lonj,'er flank feathers tipped with wider bars of black and white ; 

 back crrcenish brown; scapular.; blacker; speculum steel-blue; primaries 

 tipped with greenish blue. — Ad. 9 . — Tliroat and a stripe from the eye back- 

 ward white ; crown purplish brown ; sides of the head ashy brown ; breast 

 and sides grayish brown streaked with butty ; belly white; back olive-brown 

 glossed with greenish ; inner primaries tipjied with greenish blue. Jin. — Tho 

 im. $ resembles the 9. L., 18-')0; W., 9-00 ; Tar., 1-35 ; B., 1-.30. 



Jitntijt;. —yiorth .\merica; breeds from Florida to Hudson Bay, and wintcra 

 southward to southern Me.\ic<i, Cuba, and Jamaica. 



Washington, uncommon P. R. Long Island, uncommon T. V. and W. V., 

 Sept. to .\pl.; rare S. K. Sing -Sing, tolerably common S. K. Cambridge, 

 common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; ;Vug. to Nov. ; a few breed. 



Next, of grasses, leaves, twigs, etc., in a hole in a tree w stump. E'J(/s, 

 eight to fourteen, pale bully white, 2-05 x 1-50. 



Woodland ponds and forest-bordered streams make a proper setting 

 for the grace juid beauty of these richly attired birds. Several times 

 it has been my fortune to see them in the unconscious enjoyment 

 of their secluded homes, and I know of no sight in the bird world 

 which so fully .satisfies the eye. Alarm them, and with a frightened, 

 plaintive whistle, "■ oo-cck" they spring from the water and make oflf 

 through the woods. At other times they will swim ahead of one's 

 canoe, and, rounding a bend in the stream, go ashore and walk rapidly 

 away. 



Tho young are brought from the nest to the ground in the bill of 

 the parent. 



SuhfamiJy FiiJigulinw. Bay and Sen Durkii. 



The members of this subfamily are to he distinguished from those 

 of the preceding by the presence of a lobe or web on the hind toe. 

 They are open-water Ducks, frequenting our large lakes, bays, and sea- 

 coasts. Their food consists chielly of mollusks, crustaceans, and the 

 seeds and roots of aquatic plants. They obtain it principally by div- 

 ing, sometimes descending one hundred and fifty feet or more. The 



