144 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



their little wings and feet spread out, and drop into their favourite element; 

 but whenever their birth-place is at some distance from it, the mother carries 

 them to it one by one in her bill ... On several occasions, however, when 

 the hole was thirty ... or more yards from . . . water, I observed that the 

 mother suffered the young to fall on the grasses and dried leaves beneath the 

 tree, and afterwards led them directly to the nearest edge of the next pool 

 or creek (Audubon, 1843, VI, p. 273). 



"The "Wood Duck is conspicuous for the swiftness, ease and 

 elegance of its flight. It can pass through woods, and among the 

 branches of trees, with as much facility as the "Wild Pigeon. "While 

 flying it is rarely ever heard to utter any ery" (Baird, Brewer and 

 Ridgway, 1884, II, p. 14) . This species is to be found in pairs or at 

 most in small flocks. 



The "Wood Duck does not limit itself to the aquatic insects and 

 plants found along the stream near its regular abode, but often forages 

 about the woods in search of other food. Belding (MS) says that on 

 the Feather River he found it feeding in corn and wheat fields after 

 harvest and also on wild grapes and acorns. J. Mailliard saw quite a 

 number feeding on acorns at Paicines, San Benito County, October 

 13, 1900. The stomach of a female taken near Laytonville, Mendocino 

 County, in November, 1913, contained a large number of acorns, as 

 also that of one taken near Santa Rosa, Sonoma County. Acorns 

 would appear therefore to form a very general article in its diet. 

 Stomachs of eastern "Wood Ducks examined by the United States 

 Biological Survey (McAtee, 19116, p. 1) showed that over fifteen 

 per cent of the food is made up of wild rice and celery and over six 

 per cent of pondweeds. 



At the present time the "Wood Duck exists in such small numbers 

 that it should not properly be considered a game bird of the state. 

 Yet, as its flesh is declared to be delicious, and since it has proven itself 

 readily domesticated, there seems no good reason why it cannot be 

 raised in captivity as a commercial proposition and sold on the market. 

 At present there is a brisk demand from breeders and pleasure parks 

 for this, the handsomest of the duck tribe. 



Early writers report the Wood Duck as common in California. 

 C. H. Townsend (1887, p. 194) says that it was observed on the lower 

 McCloud River at various times from October 1 until March 1, often 

 in quite large companies, and was seen in April and May at Red 

 Bluff, where it frequented the sloughs in the timber belts along the 

 Sacramento River. Heermann (1859, p. 68) gives it as "abundant, 

 breeding in the hollow trees bordering the streams of California." 

 J. Mailliard (1911, p. 49) says that as late as twenty-five years ago 

 it was no uncommon thing to see "Wood Ducks scattered in smaU 

 groups along such a stream as the Paper Mill or Lagunitas Creek, 



