Carolina Ducks. 



551 



" The nests of the duck, when wild, are mostly built in the hollow of a tree, whence the name 

 of Wood Duck, frequently given to them. The nesting-time is April, May, and June ; the eggs 

 are of an oval shape, and nearly resemble polished ivory in colour. It is a singular fact, but 

 well established, that when the young are hatched, the parent carries them down to the water 

 from the tree. 



" The Carolinas bear confinement very well. They are now kept by many fanciers, and I 

 think nothing can be prettier on a piece of ornamental water than these splendid birds. They will, 

 however, only breed in confinement under very favourable circumstances, and great care is then 

 necessary to protect them from rats and other vermin." 



With regard to the Carolina Duck flying in pairs, there is some difference of opinion among 

 naturalists. Wilson states the matter so in his "American Ornithology ;" but Audubon, who in 

 such matters is generally preferable, expresses downright astonishment at such a statement, and 

 assures his readers that he has actually seen " hundreds " in a single flock, and has known fifteen 

 to be killed by one shot. He also gives most interesting particulars of its habits. The flight, he 

 says, is remarkable for ease and elegance, and that the bird passes through the woods with almost 

 the facility of a pigeon, and making little or no noise from its wings. Incubation lasts twenty-five 

 days, and is generally carried on, as stated by Mr. Leno, in some hole of a tree, during which time 

 the drake joins the other males, and roams in their company over adjoining lakes. When hatched, 

 Audubon states that, " if the nest is placed immediately over the water, the young scramble to the 

 mouth of the hole, launch into the air with their little wings and feet spread out, and drop into 

 their favourite element ; but whenever their birthplace is at some distance from it, the mother 

 carries them to it one by one in her bill, holding them so as not to injure their tender frames. On 

 several occasions, however, when the hole was thirty, forty, or more yards from a pool or other 

 piece of water, I observed the mother suffered the young to fall on the grasses and dried leaves 

 beneath the trees, and afterwards lead them to the nearest edge of the next pool or creek." Wilson 

 was told by an eye-witness that he had seen a Carolina Duck carry down thirteen young ones from 

 her nest to the ground within ten minutes. She managed it by seizing one at a time with her bill, 

 by the wing or back of the neck, and thus bearing them to the foot of the tree, from which she led 

 them to the water. 



With regard to the size of the Summer Duck, as in that of the Mandarin, no fixed standard 

 can be given. Some prefer them "as small as possible," while other good judges seem to prefer 

 "a good big bird." Mr. Leno, who has perhaps kept them more largely than any one else, writes 

 that he considers size should have nothing to do with judging them, but that, be this what it may, 

 the clearest and most brilliant in colour should receive the prizes, though he rather leans to small 

 size. Such is our own view ; but we also think that as time goes on the larger size will come most 

 into favour for practical reasons, which are admirably put in the following remarks by Mr. Hewitt 

 on these beautiful birds : — 



" As to Carolinas, I find that the crests become more and more developed as years pass by ; 

 and if the birds are carefully moulted, by proper food and attention, the colours become as time 

 goes on more brilliant and intense throughout the entire plumage of either sex. In the female 

 Carolina the white round the eye becomes by age greatly increased in size, and frequently meets 

 over the base of the bill, forming a band of white across the forehead of feathers half an inch in 

 width : the lustrous character of her whole plumage is also remarkably improved. As I never 

 kept the same Mandarins beyond the third season, I cannot speak so decidedly of them, except 

 that the crest, at least of the male, annually improves in size and colour. 



" My experience of both Mandarin and Carolina Ducks is, that they very considerably increase 



