BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
121 
Plate XXL 
AIX SPONSA, (Linn.) Boie. 
Wood Duck ; Summer Duck. 
The Wood Duck, appropriately so named because it breeds in trees, 
surpasses in elegance of plumage and gracefulness of action all North 
American birds of its family. Although known by the name of Summer 
Duck, from the fact of its remaining with us during the entire hot season, 
and not journeying to the cold regions of the North as many of its 
brethren are wont to do, it is however more commonly designated by the 
former appellation. Few species are more highly esteemed by lovers of 
the beautiful in Nature than this, and, where obtainable, it is one of the 
first that finds its way into the private collection of the amateur natural- 
ist. But by epicures, it is considered as of rather inferior standing, lack- 
ing the delicacy of flesh which makes the Green-winged Teal and others 
of such immense gastronomic value. 
Although truly an American sjiecies, it is more generally found 
throughout the United States than any other, nesting wherever suitable 
localities j>resent themselves. North of the Potomac, and in the various 
States situated above the parallel which cuts its head-waters, at least so 
far as the country east of the Rocky Mountains is concerned, it is chiefly 
a migrant, arriving towards the latter part of March, or the beginning of 
April. South of this line, from Maryland to Florida, and in a south- 
westerly direction through the Gulf States into Mexico, the birds are found 
in more or less abundance during the entire year. 
In the South Atlantic and Gulf States, they generally pair, we are 
told, abont the first of March, but in New England and the Middle 
States, in favorable seasons, fi'om the first to the fifteenth of April, perhaps 
