THE LONG-TAILED DUCK. 4G5 



breast and upper parts, except the dark chestnut secon- 

 daries and bluish-white scapulars and tertiaries, elegantly 

 elongated, black; pointed tail feathers, except the four elon- 

 gated central ones, and under parts, white; sides, light drab; 

 feet and legs, dark slate — all these striking contrasts in 

 color render the male, in winter plumage, conspicuous and 

 beautiful. In summer the head and neck become dark, 

 and the scapulars and tertials black, edged with chestnut. 

 Late in April 'or early in May, some may be found scarcely 

 changed from the winter habit, and others may be almost 

 conformed to the summer dress. 



The female, with shortened tail feathers, being but 16.00 

 long, is grayish-brown, many of the feathers being edged 

 with whitish; spot around the eye, sides of the neck and 

 breast, grayish-white, the latter becoming clear white on 

 the belly. In winter the head and neck of the female may 

 be nearly white. This species spends the winter as far north 

 as ice and snow will permit, and is our only Duck which, like 

 certain other birds and certain animals of the north, whitens 

 with the winter and becomes dark again in summer; hence 

 the propriety of its name glacialis, or hiemalis, meaning 

 Winter or Ice Duck; and the name commends itself to us 

 especially, as we see it swimming and diving, as if perfectly 

 at home, in the midst of floating ice and driving snow- 

 storms. 



Its feet placed far behind, an accommodation in diving, it 

 keeps to the deep channels of the river, drifting down the 

 rapid current as it dives deep down incessantly for its food, 

 and then flies up the river to test the ground over again. 

 The third day of last April (1882) was one never to be for- 

 gotten. Perfectly calm, and with a cloudless sunshine, the 

 air was so warm as to cause a white vapor over the whole 

 surface of the river, rendering the scenery just above Niag- 

 :^0 



