OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL DUCKS 



273 



a color-scheme of brilliant reds, greens, blacks, 

 browns, yellows and whites which is quite be- 

 wildering. 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: 



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

 gowned American Woman is to a Chinese Man- 

 darin. 



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 to thirty or 

 forty feet. The nesting-site is always above 

 water, in order that as the ducklings finally 

 scramble out of the nest and fall, they will 

 alight in the water without injury, and quickly 

 learn to swim. 



In captivity the best nesting arrangement 

 for this bird consists of a long, narrow box 

 set on end on a stout post, well out in a pond, 

 roofed over to keep out the rain. There must 

 be a hole in one side, near the top, and a slanting 

 board with cross slats reaching up to it from the 

 water, for use as a ladder. The Wood-Duck 

 will sometimes nest on the ground, either in 

 captivity' or out. This species is being bred in 

 captivity in England in large numbers, and 

 also with some success in this country. Duck 

 fanciers find no difficulty in purchasing live 

 specimens of this interesting bird at $15 per 

 pair. 



During the summer of 1902, a pair of wild 

 Wood-Ducks made daily visits to the Ducks' 

 Aviary in the New York Zoological Park, and 

 in the autumn of that year a small flock settled 

 with the Wood-Ducks, mallards and pintails on 

 the Aquatic Mammals' Pond, and remained there 

 permanently. In the spring of 1903, a fine 

 drake manifested a fixed determination to break 

 into the great Flying Cage, and become a mem- 

 ber of the happy family within. After he had 

 flown around the cage two or three times, 

 Keeper Gannon opened wide the wire gates at 

 the north end, drove him in, and he is there now, 

 serene and happy. 



The Wood-Duck is a bird of great discern- 

 ment. 



Although this bird is called the Summer- 

 Duck, and migrates far in advance of winter, it 

 winters very comfortably in the northern 

 states if it is fed and continuously provided 

 with open water to keep its feet from freezing. 

 The natural range of this species is from Hud- 

 son 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. 



Like all other wild clucks that are impcra- 



W r OOD-DUCK. 

 Male and female. 



tively 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. 



The Redhead Duck 1 is one of our largest 

 and best species, and one of the most satis- 

 factory 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 



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



