BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 



105 



WOOD DUCK {Aix sponsa). 

 Common or local name : Summer Duck. 



Female. 



Male. 



Length. — 18 to 20 inches. 



Adult Male. — Head profusely crested, metallic green and blue, ending in 

 a long crest of purple and marked with two lines of narrow white 

 feathers; sides of head deepening to purplish black below eye; throat 

 white, the white running a spur up side of head and another across 

 upper neck; upper body rich greenish brown, bronze green and purple; 

 wings show velvety black, purple and white; tail long and dark; upper 

 breast rich reddish chestnut, with small white markings, a white band 

 edged with black before bend of wing; flanks light buffy brown, finely 

 lined, and bordered above and behind by black and white; rest of 

 under parts white, except under tail coverts, which are dusky; bill 

 pinkish white, red and black; iris and eyelids red; feet orange with black 

 claws. 



Adult Female. — Less crest; head grayish; chin, throat, line about base of 

 bill, ring around eye and patch behind it white; rest of upper parts 

 brownish, dark or grayish brown; wings somewhat as in the male; neck, 

 upper breast and flanks streaked and mottled with gray or brown and 



