SUMMER DUCK. 2.31 



in an old white oak on the banks of a stream, whose 

 top had been torn off by a storm. In this hollow and 

 broken top, about six feet down, on the soft decayed 

 wood, lay thirteen eggs, snugly covered with down. 

 This tree had been occupied, as tliere was reason to 

 suppose, by the same pair, for four successive years. A 

 person who had lived near the spot, said that he had 

 seen the female, the preceding spring, carry down thir- 

 teen young, one by one, in less than ten minutes : 

 she caught them in her bill by the wdng or back of 

 the neck, and landed them safely at the foot of the 

 tree, whence she afterwards led them to the water. 

 The male usually perched upon an adjoining branch, 

 where he kept watch while the female was laying, and 

 often while she was sitting. A tame goose had chosen 

 a hollow^ space at the foot of the same tree, to lay and 

 hatch her young in. 



The summer duck seldom associates in flocks of more 

 than three or four, and they are all probably of the same 

 family. The common note of the drake is peet, peet; 

 but when, standing sentinel, he sees danger, he makes a 

 noise not unlike the crowing of a young cock, oe eek, oe 

 eek. Their chief food seems to be acorns, wild oats, 

 and insects. So very tame does this elegant bird be- 

 come when domesticated, that it will permit one to stroke 

 its back with the hand. Some time ago, an American 

 gentleman, w^ho had a remarkable fondness for this 

 species, had a whole yard swarming with them ; they 

 had been so completely domesticated, that they bred, and 

 were as familiar as any other poultry. They are well 

 known in this country among the dealers in live birds ; 

 and may generally be procured, although at a somewhat 

 high price. It is much smaller than the common do- 

 mestic duck. 



The colour of the male may be thus described : 

 — Upper part of the head and lores glossy dark green ; 

 cheeks, and a large patch on the sides of the 

 throat, purple, glossed with blue : from the hind head is 

 an elegant pendent crest of green and auricula purple, 

 Q 4 



