DUCKS AND GEESE 69 



from the parent's breast. Eight to eleven pale ashy-green 

 eggs are laid. The young are led to the water by the 

 parent as soon as they emerge from the shell. Occasionally 

 this bird nests on the lonely prairie of Iowa, Illinois, and 

 Nebraska. 



WOOD DUCK 



The range of the Wood Ducks is quite extensive, cover- 

 ing temperate North America from Florida to Hudson 

 Bay. 



" Few, if any, more exquisitely beautiful creatures have 

 been fashioned in the workmanship of Nature than the wood 

 duck of America," are the words of Dr. Dawson, and to 

 them we might add the words of Mr. Chapman : " Wood- 

 land ponds and various border streams make a proper set- 

 ting for the grace and beauty of this richly attired bird." 

 They do not quack, but have a pleasing and musical call — 

 a sort of wliistle. 



These birds perch upon branches of trees, and are fond 

 of acorns. They are not solely dependent upon aquatic 

 plants and animals or even upon food which is found upon 

 the ground, but also eat flying insects and young buds. 



It seems too bad that because of unscrupulous hunters 

 this gem of the woodland should be in danger of extermi- 

 nation. Then, too, the open season for ducks does not 

 offer protection, as the hunting season opens before the 

 southern flight of most waterfowl which nest in the far 

 North has begun. Therefore, our summer ducks are for 

 a time the only available game. 



They build their nests and seek their food in unfre- 



