528 BIRDS — ANATIDiE. 



Habitat, North America. Enrope. Asia. Australia. In this country thionghont the 

 oontioent, breeding from llexas to Alaska, and wintering abundantly from the Middle 

 districts southward to Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica. 



Very common spring and fall migrant, summer resident in part. This 

 beautiful bird is more frequently seen in this vicinity singly or in pairs 

 than in flocks, and as often in ditches and wet places as in streams ; not 

 unfrequently found in wet woodland. Breeds in some portions of the 

 State and in the vicinity of Columbus where it is not known to breed, 

 often remains in spring for weeks after all others have left. 



Gencs AIX. Swainson. 

 Bill shorter than the head, elevated at base. Tail half the wing. 



Aix SPONSA (L.) Boie. 



Smniner Ducli : W^ood. IDncIz. 



Anasaponsa, Audtjbon, Orn. Biog., iii, 183.5, 52 ; B. Am., vi, 1843, 277.— Kiktlaud, Prelim. 

 Rep. Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 67 ; Ohio Geolog. Snrv., 1838, 166, 186. 



Aixsponsa, Wheaton, Ohio Agric. Kep. for 1860, 370 ; Eeprint, 1861, 12; Food of Birds, 

 ete. Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 574 ; Reprint, 1875, 14. — Lakgdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 

 1877, 17 ; Revised List, Jonrn. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 185 ; Eeprint, 19. 



Summer Duck, Kirtlajsd, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 1, 72. 



Anas sponaa, Linnjsus, Syst. Nat , i, 1766, 207. 

 Aix aponaa, BoiB, Isis, 1826, 329. 



Crested ; head Iridescent green and purple, with parallel curved white superciliary 

 and post-oonlar stripes, and a broad white throat-patch ; length, 18-20 ; wing, 8i-9J ; 

 tail, 4^-5 ; tarsns, li-li; bill, 1^-. Female with the head mostly gray. 



Habitat, North America, especially United States, breeding throughout in suitable 

 places, and wintering chiefly in the south. Cuba. 



Summer resident. Common migrant, and breeding throughout the 

 State. The above description, while it answers all purposes for identifica- 

 tion, gives no conception of the coloring of this most beautiful of all our 

 ducks. In fact the variety, richness and lustre of its plumage are such 

 that no description can give an adequate conception. 



Nest in holes of trees ; eggs greenish buff, 2.00 by 1.50. 



It is frequently for a time domesticated, of which Dr. Kirtland gives 

 the following account (Family Visitor, 1. c.) : 



" Id answer to your queries respecting the domestication of the Summer or Wood 

 Duck, I wonld staie that H. T. Kirtland, Esq., of Mahoning county, succeeded oh several 

 occasions in domesticating that beautiful bird, many years since; and at one time had 

 on hand a considerable flock. 



" Ho had trained a small dog so thoroughly that it wonld pass along the shores of the 

 creeks and Imjous in the vicinity during the summer, where flocks of the old and yonog 

 ducks were congregating, and before the latter were sufficiently fledged to take to the 

 wing. Alarmed at the approach of an enemy, the old ones would sound their peculiar 



