﻿1 
  82 
  NEW 
  YORK 
  STATE 
  MUSEUM 
  

  

  returning 
  in 
  October 
  and 
  November 
  [5^?^ 
  Occurrence 
  tables]. 
  This 
  is 
  a 
  

   nearctic 
  species 
  breeding 
  both 
  in 
  our 
  austral 
  and 
  boreal 
  zones 
  and 
  winter- 
  

   inc^ 
  from 
  the 
  Northern 
  States 
  to 
  Cuba 
  and 
  Mexico. 
  

  

  This 
  species 
  inhabits 
  the 
  sluggish, 
  wooded 
  ponds 
  and 
  streams 
  which 
  

   are 
  also 
  the 
  haunts 
  of 
  the 
  Wood 
  duck 
  and 
  the 
  Heron. 
  Consequently 
  it 
  

   does 
  less 
  hann 
  by 
  destroying 
  fish 
  than 
  the 
  other 
  mergansers, 
  but 
  lives 
  to 
  a 
  

   considerable 
  extent 
  on 
  aquatic 
  insects 
  and 
  even 
  partakes 
  at 
  times 
  of 
  vege- 
  

   table 
  food. 
  Its 
  flesh, 
  as 
  might 
  be 
  expected, 
  is 
  more 
  edible 
  also, 
  and 
  for 
  

   all 
  these 
  reasons, 
  as 
  well 
  as 
  on 
  account 
  of 
  its 
  beautiful 
  plumage, 
  it 
  is 
  one 
  of 
  

   the 
  Duck 
  family 
  which 
  might 
  well 
  be 
  encouraged 
  to 
  live 
  and 
  propagate 
  

   within 
  our 
  borders. 
  It 
  is 
  one 
  of 
  the 
  four 
  species 
  of 
  wild 
  ducks 
  which 
  breed 
  

   to 
  any 
  extent 
  in 
  the 
  State 
  as 
  a 
  whole, 
  and 
  wovild 
  do 
  so 
  more 
  extensively 
  

   if 
  properly 
  protected. 
  

  

  It 
  is 
  a 
  beautiful 
  sight 
  to 
  watch 
  a 
  company 
  of 
  these 
  birds 
  swimming 
  

   briskly 
  along 
  among 
  the 
  lily 
  pads, 
  all 
  flashing 
  and 
  closing 
  their 
  crests 
  in 
  

   time 
  to 
  their 
  advance. 
  Sometimes 
  they 
  may 
  be 
  seen 
  perched 
  motionless 
  

   upon 
  a 
  rock 
  or 
  stump. 
  If 
  disturbed 
  they 
  make 
  off 
  down 
  the 
  stream, 
  patter- 
  

   ino- 
  the 
  water 
  in 
  a 
  long 
  line 
  of 
  dimples 
  as 
  they 
  dart 
  away. 
  Presently 
  they 
  

   rise 
  and 
  wheel 
  about 
  and 
  a 
  slight 
  whirring 
  of 
  wings 
  is 
  heard 
  as 
  they 
  shoot 
  

   past 
  above 
  you 
  like 
  so 
  many 
  winged 
  arrows. 
  

  

  Their 
  nests 
  are 
  built 
  in 
  hollow 
  trees 
  of 
  grasses 
  and 
  moss, 
  lined 
  with 
  

   down. 
  The 
  eggs 
  are 
  from 
  7-1 
  1, 
  creamy 
  white, 
  2.12 
  x 
  1.75 
  inches. 
  

  

  Subfamily 
  ANATINA.E> 
  

  

  River 
  Ducks 
  

  

  Tarsi 
  scutellate 
  in 
  front; 
  hind 
  toe 
  simple, 
  or 
  without 
  lobe. 
  The 
  former 
  

   character 
  separates 
  River 
  ducks 
  from 
  geese, 
  the 
  latter 
  from 
  Sea 
  ducks. 
  

   Their 
  bills 
  are 
  also 
  proportionately 
  longer, 
  flatter 
  and 
  more 
  adapted 
  to 
  

   dabbling 
  in 
  water 
  than 
  those 
  of 
  Sea 
  ducks, 
  reaching 
  a 
  wonderful 
  perfection 
  

   in 
  the 
  Shoveler. 
  Their 
  feet 
  are 
  also 
  smaller 
  than 
  in 
  Sea 
  ducks, 
  their 
  legs 
  

   and 
  necks 
  shorter 
  than 
  in 
  geese. 
  The 
  drakes 
  and 
  sometimes 
  the 
  ducks 
  

   have 
  a 
  tracheal 
  tympanum, 
  or 
  bony 
  drum 
  at 
  the 
  base 
  of 
  the 
  windpipe, 
  

   a 
  character 
  which 
  is 
  also 
  possessed 
  by 
  the 
  Sea 
  ducks. 
  The 
  drakes 
  are 
  fine 
  

   plumaged 
  birds, 
  usually 
  with 
  a 
  bright, 
  iridescent 
  mirror, 
  or 
  beauty 
  spot 
  on 
  

  

  