XXXV 



THE WOOD-DUCK 



THE wood-duck is the most beautiful duck in the 

 world. Some years ago, in a magazine article, 

 I expressed the opinion that this bird was more beau- 

 tiful than the mandarin duck of China, and in Elliot's 

 recent popular ornithological work this opinion is sus- 

 tained. 



In size the wood-duck is intermediate between the 

 mallard and teal. Its head is dark green, reflecting 

 purple and blue, and effectively marked with white 

 lines. Its back is dark brown, the wing coverts are 

 blue. Its breast a rich chestnut, dotted with white 

 arrow-shaped marks. It has a handsome crest, and 

 Linnaeus well named it the bride {Sponsa). It has been 

 suggested, however, that it is the groom that is beau- 

 tiful. The female, as in most water-fowl, is not so 

 handsome. 



The wood-duck is known in many localities as the 

 summer duck, since it remains and breeds in many of 

 the States, and the migratory birds return first of all to 

 the northern parts of the United States, where the 

 shooting is best in August and September. It is 

 designated also as the acorn duck, from its well- 

 known fondness for acorns. 



The flight of the wood-duck is swift and graceful, 



233 



