ORNITHOLOGY. 41. 
their elegant markings and delicate tints, a showy crest, that can 
be raised or depressed at will; we have, in all, twenty-two different 
species of this family that visit this locality. 
The whole of this class of birds are highly esteemed as an arti- 
cle of food, and are much sought after by gunners. They, how- 
ever, differ very much in point of excellence, some being so ex- 
ceedingly delicious, juicy, and fine flavored, as to command a very 
high price in markets where they are known and appreciated ; as 
is the case with the Canvas Back Duck, which is allowed the pre- 
cedence in point of flavor by all epicures, and readily sells for five 
or six dollars per pair in Baltimore or New York, while ‘others 
are lean, dry and tough, and of doubtful taste. Others again are 
of a decided fishy flavor, and can scarcely be eaten. As a general 
rule the wide billed birds should be chosen, and the narrow bill- 
ed, especially the serated or sawbilled ones, should be rejected, 
as the latter live principally upon fish. 
Among the wild duck, we find many gay and handsomely 
plumaged birds, but without doubt the Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa) 
is, by far, the most beautiful of all this group of birds. The rich, 
changing lustre of its plumage is not surpassed by any duck in 
the world. Unlike most other ducks, the Wood Duck builds its 
nest in a tree, from which it carries its young as soon as they are 
hatched, and places them in the water, which is usually close at 
hand. 
The whole of the birds of North America comprise seven hun- 
dred and thirty-eight (738) different species. 
