The Fulvous Tree Duck 



The Tree Ducks, known locally as "squealers," have a light high 

 cackling or whistling note, chi peew, which one might sooner expect of a 

 plover, or even a flycatcher. This note is uttered freely upon arising, 

 but is rarely used, I believe, save in flight or under stress of alarm. 



While the birds are essentially fresh-water birds, they are by no means 

 unknown at the seashore during migrations. The group of nine birds shown 

 on page 1878 was photographed on the sea-beach near Carpinteria. Having 

 just arrived from the south, on the 2nd of May, 1912, they first stood at 





Taken near Los Banos 



NEST AND EGGS OF FULVOUS TREE DUCK, UNDISTURBED 



Photo by the Author 



attention, dutifully silent, like well-trained soldiers; then seeing only a 

 harmless admirer, they tucked heads under wings and fell asleep forth- 

 with. They made a handsome appearance under a full sun, like statuettes 

 of burnished bronze set in a row, while their slender legs, of steel rather 

 than bronze, supported the aloofness of their distinguished beauty. In a 

 setting of green marsh grass they are no less distinguished ; but the out- 

 burst of treble cackling which marks their flight produces a ludicrous 

 effect, like a chorus of fat tenors. 



Although there is a suspicion registered above that Tree Duck morals 



1880 



