ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



521 



si 



THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 



shore, and the feathered fishers of the river- 

 banks and lakes. We can safely predicate that 

 when Hudson first went ashore from the bosom 

 of his mighty river, he became personally ac- 

 quainted with the Belted Kingfisher, — he of 

 the stem-winding voice, the white collar, and 

 the jaunty cap of blue. It has been gravel v 

 stated in print that "Kingfishers are found near 

 streams," and in similar environments may be 

 seen the slow rise and stately flight of the 

 Great Blue Heron ; but it is on the marshes 

 that we hear the deep-seated "voice" of the 

 American Bittern. The traditional "boom" 

 of the Bittern looks good on paper; but when 

 it is compared with the real booms of life, it 

 seems very small. Being most happily unfit 

 for food and uncursed with desirable "plumes," 

 the Heron and the Bittern, even though large, 

 still are in our midst ; but now there are for- 



silver, then may you know of a verity that the 

 aerial voyager is our national bird in adult plum- 

 age. Incidentally, you may also know that it is 

 one of the handsomest of all living birds of prey. 



It is now fashionable for young ornithologists 

 to deride our national bird, and besmirch his 

 character, because he exacts tribute of his vas- 

 sal, the Osprey. But he needs no defense from 

 me, any more than the fires of Vesuvius need a 

 janitor to hold an umbrella over them to keep 

 out the summer rain. Whenever the great 

 American Eagle really needs defenders, three 

 million lusty Americans will rush to volunteer 

 for the campaign. 



I think it is true of every continent that the 

 first birds seen by its explorers, — who almost 

 invariably make their initial entries by the water 

 routes. — are the web-footed birds of sea and 



WOOD DUCK. 

 Male and Female. 



THE REDHEAD DUCK. 



eign bird-killers to reckon with, who kill and 

 eat everything wild, from vireos to vultures. 



Even yet in spring and fall the weird cry of 

 the uncanny Loon, or Great Northern Diver, 

 is heard occasionally over the upper waters of 

 the Hudson River. In the early days, this bird 

 was a frequent visitor to the Hudson valley, and 

 often nested along the upper waters of the river. 

 Both in form and in habits the Loon is the most 

 remarkable and picturesque feathered inhabitant 

 of the Empire State. It is so much like the 

 giant Penguins of the antarctic regions that it 

 seems as if it once had lived there, but having 



