BEAUTY OF THE WOOD DUCK 



183 



browns, yellows and whites which is quite bewildering. Even 

 its weak little bill is colored scarlet and white, and its iris is 

 bright red. 



In my opinion the claims of the two duck species which 

 are rivals for the prize for web-footed beauty may fairly be 

 expressed by the following proportion: 



WOOD DUCK. 



Male and Female. 



The Pintail is to the Wood Duck as a well-gowned Amer- 

 ican woman is to a Chinese mandarin. 



The Wood Duck needs no description. Among ducks it 

 is equalled in gorgeous colors only by its nearest relative the 

 mandarin duck of China — a painted harlequin. Our species 

 is a tree duck, and not only perches on trees, but also makes its 

 nest in them, and rears its young at an elevation of from ten 



