Wood-Duck 49 
Distribution,—Breeding throughout temperate North America from 
Nova Scotia and southern British Columbia, to Cuba, Florida, south 
Texas and southern California; wintering in the southern portion 
of its breeding range. 
In Colorado the Wood-Duck is distinctly a rare bird, though probably 
@& summer resident when it does occur; but the nest has not yet been 
taken in the State. ; 
It is occasionally found on the lakes round Denver, and one taken 
at Littleton on the South Platte May Ist, 1892, is stated by Cooke to 
be in the collection of Mr. E. J. Oslar; Hersey reports he took a pair 
two miles west of Barr Lake in the fall of 1889. It has also been noticed 
by Aiken in El Paso co.; by Rowland, Cowie and Werley in Boulder 
co, (Henderson) and by W. G. Smith at Loveland (Cooke). Morrison 
states that it is common near Fort Lewis on the La Plata River, and 
occurs up to an, elevation of 9,500 feet; and though he believed it bred, 
he did not find the nest. 
Habits—The Wood- or Summer-Duck—the most 
brilliantly coloured of all the American species—is found 
about small lakes, weedy ponds and shady streams, 
in close proximity to scattered woods, and is only seen 
on large bodies of water during migration. It is not 
shy, and often comes to farms and associates with the 
barn-yard Ducks. Its flight is swift and graceful, and 
its food consists of insects, seeds and leaves ; it is specially 
fond of acorns. 
The nest is placed in a hollow tree, sometimes in the 
hole of a Woodpecker, sometimes in a natural cavity. 
It is often quite high up and far from water. The eggs, 
6 to 14 in number, are ivory-white and measure 2°0 x 
1°50. If the nest is very high up, the parents carry the 
young birds down to the water in their beaks. 
Subfamily FULIGULIN. 
The Sea-Ducks have the flattened bill of the River- 
Ducks, but are distinguished by the hind toe being 
lobate, ie. bearing a large membranous lobe; the legs 
are rather shorter and placed far back,so that though 
E 
