THE REDHEAD DUCK 185 



in the northern states wherever it is fed, and continuously 

 provided with open water to keep its feet from freezing. 

 The natural range of this species is from Hudson Bay to the 

 Gulf of Mexico, chiefly on fresh water; but often it is found on 

 brackish sounds and channels along the Atlantic coast where 

 food is plentiful. Thanks to the nation-wide protection now 

 afforded this species by the federal migratory bird law, pro- 

 tecting it everywhere throughout the United States, this 

 beautiful bird will in many localities breed back again, and 

 return to us. 



Like all other wild ducks that are imperatively needed to 

 keep the American people from starving, there remains to- 

 day about one Wood Duck where formerly there were from 

 thirty to fifty. Apparently, the only winged creatures that 

 are too beautiful or too good to be shot and eaten are angels; 

 but I doubt if even a white-winged seraph with webbed feet 

 would be safe for half an hour anywhere between Cape Cod 

 and Charleston during the autumn open season. 



The Redhead Duck^ is one of our largest and best species, 

 and one of the most satisfactory to keep in captivity. It 

 belongs to the same genus as the canvas-back, and in size, 

 habits, table value and beauty it is in no sense whatever in- 

 ferior to its more famous relative. When shot in the same 

 locality, I think there is no one who could distinguish the two 

 species by a difference in the flavor of their flesh. 



In the color of their plumage the Redhead and canvas- 

 back look so much alike that the casual observer might easily 

 mistake one species, for the other. Both have heads and necks 



^ Ay-thy'a americana. Average length, 19 inches. 



