on the Summer or Carolina Duck .



9i



an undoubted Mandarin Drake in undress is, or was when this

was written, set up to represent that phase in the Carolina.


I ought, by the way, to explain why I use this latter name

for the Summer Duck. It is simply because “Summer Duck”

is only the book-name of the bird; to Waterfowl-keepers, both

in England and France, it is usually known as the Carolina

{Carotin in French), and under this name it constantly appears

at shows. In its native home of North America it is called the

Wood-duck, but this name has not gained currency over here.


It has a wide range in the United States, but is becoming

terribly rare owing to reckless shooting, and as it does not go far

north to breed, is in a fair way for extinction.. When unmolested,

it is willing to be familiar with man, and, being a tree-builder,

can be conciliated by means of nesting-boxes, the more so as it

haunts inland localities and narrow waters more than most

Ducks. Its natural breeding-places are in holes in trees, and it

displays a strong perching proclivity and great skill in threading

its way among trees and branches on the wing, the ease of its

flight, like the form of its wings, being comparable to a Pigeon’s.


The young, which, owing to their sharp little claws, are

•excellent climbers, are allowed to fall from the nest, which they

do without harm, being so small and light.


The Carolina Duck has been known familiarly to European

aviculturists far longer than the Mandarin, having bred freely and

been well distributed early in the last century, when the latter

was still scarce and dear. Under these circumstances, Carolina

Ducks were often sold with Mandarin Drakes as their proper

mates, but in spite of this no hybrids were ever bred—a most

remarkable fact considering the close alliance of the two species.

Of late years, however, if I recollect aright, a hybrid was bred by

■one of our members, which did not live to attain maturity. This

was a great pity, as, if a male, it would in all probability have

been a very beautiful bird, and of a beauty quite unique. I

should recommend anyone who is trying for the cross to use the

reverse mating, putting a Carolina Drake to a Mandarin Duck

a match which has probably seldom been tried. Some years ago,

it is true, there were on the Northern Pond of the Zoological



