THE GAD WALL. 605 



Tlie Wood Duck rarely visits the sea-shore, its favorite haunts being the solitary deep and 

 muddy creeks and ponds of the interior. Wilson saw a nest in Tuckahoe, N^,w Jersey, which 

 was in a tree within twenty yards of a dwelling. The female was observed to carry down 

 thirteen young in less than ten minutes, one by one. She took them in her bill by the back of 

 the neck or the wing, and landed them safely at the foot of the tree, when she led them to the 

 water. 



The Summer Buck never flies in flocks of more than three or four individuals together, 

 and most commonly in pairs or singly. It is often bred in confinement, and proves quite 

 tame, and a most desirable pet, as its beauty is superb. Its length is nineteen inches, and 

 extent of wing twenty-eight inches. The female is handsome, but wants the richer pencilling 

 on the wings. 



The Scattp Duck {FuUx mariUa) inhabits the whole of North America, Europe, and 

 Asia. It is called Greater Scaup as distinguished from the Little Scaup or Lesser Black- 

 head, Blue-bill, Broad-bill, and Shuffler. The term Blue-bill is, says Wilson, the more 

 familiar name in the Middle States. It is often abundant on the Delaware, where small snails 

 are found growing in quantities. It is not, on this account, esteemed for its flesh. Its length is 

 about nineteen inches, and extent of wing twenty-nine. 



The Lessee Scaup {Fiilix affinis), or Little Black-head, is closely allied to the pre 

 ceding, but is considerably smaller. It is known to gunners as the "Creek Broad -bill," from 

 its habit of frequenting small streams. It is a very abundant species. Its range is about the 

 same as that of the preceding. ''Authors," says Dr. Coues, "are very much at variance about 

 the relationship of these two species, and the question is not yet satisfactorily settled, though 

 at present they are regarded as two species." 



The Ring-billed Black-head [Fulix collaris) inhabits the whole of North America, 

 breeding far north, wintering in the United States and beyond. It reaches south to Guatemala, 

 Cuba, and Jamaica, and is accidental in Europe. It is called by our gunners "Bastard 

 Broad bill." It resembles the two preceding species. It is not abundant on the sea-coast. A 

 few are observed on Long Island and New Jersey shores every spring and autumn. On the 

 streams of the interior it is quite common during winter. In the Middle States it is known 

 as the Tufted Duck, under which name Wilson describes it. 



The curious Shoveller Duck {Spatula clypeafa) may be at once known by the fonn of 

 the beak, which is much widened on each side near the tip, and bears some resemblance to 

 the beak of the Spoonbill. 



The head and upper part of the neck of the adult male are rich green, and the lower part 

 of the neck white, this tint extending to the scapularies, and some of the tertials. The back is 

 brown, the tip of the wing, the lesser wing-coverts, and part of the tertials are pale blue, the 

 primaries being blackish-brown. The upper tail-coverts and tail are black, and the breast and 

 abdomen are chestnut-brown. The female is brown of various tones above, and pale brown 

 below. The total length of the bird is about twenty inches. 



The Shoveller, also called Spoon-bill Duck, inhabits North America, Europe, Asia, and 

 Australia. It breeds from Texas to Alaska. In South America it is replaced by a nearly 

 allied species. This Duck is abundant in all parts of the western country of the United States. 



Few Ducks are more elegantly marked than this. The bill is large, and rather curiously 

 formed. Though it occasionally visits the sea-coast, it prefers the inland lakes and sti-eams, 

 where it feeds on the worms and small creatures that inhabit the muddy shores. The great, 

 spoon-shaped bill has a set of teeth like strainers on its edges, whereby the soft animai matter 

 is retained and the water is strained through. 



The Creoles of Louisiana call this bird " Micoine," — the meaning being obscure. 



The Gadwall {Chaulelasrmis streperus) inhabits North America generally, Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, and is generally distributed in the United States. Few birds are so cosmopolitan in 



