WATER BIRDS. 



/fiN 



American Widgeon. 



Velvet Duck 



The American Widgeon, in summer, goes north to breed, and is found as far up as the sixty-eighth 

 parallel. In autumn and winter, it is common in most parts of the United States, but more abundant in 

 the southern sections. It is an intimate friend of the Canvass-back, and being indolent, when the latter 

 dives and brings up a certain root, which is a favorite food of both, he snatches the tit-bit and makes off. 

 In the middle states, this bird is often in the market, and much esteemed as food. 



The Velvet Duck abounds in the northern regions of both continents, and goes thither in the late spring 

 to breed. They are divers, and live on shell-fish and other marine productions. In the course of the 

 winter they go south, and in Chesapeake bay are very abundant. Their llesh, especially that of the young 

 birds, is by some considered a great delicacy. They start for southern regions in September. 



The Long-tailed Duck, a bird alike noisy and elegant in aspect, lives chiefly in the arctic regions of both 

 continents, and procures its food mostly from the sea. It so loves these frigid climes that it quits them 

 only when driven southward for subsistence. It usually visits us in October, and is numerous on the 

 shores of Chesapeake bay. It lays about five eggs of a pale, greenish-grey tint. The young are tolerable 

 food, but the old, intolerable. 



The Harlequin Duck, a singularly marked and beautiful bird, lives almost entirely in the frozen regions 

 of the far north, rarely migrating even as far south as our middle states. It feeds on spawn, shell-fish, and 

 the larvae of aquatic insects. It it is a skilful swimmer and diver, and its flesh is reckoned superior to 

 that of the common wild duck. The Newfoundland fishermen name it " lord," from its superb neck and breast 



Long-tailed Duck 



Ilnrlequin Duck. 



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