211 



SUMMER DUCK. 



WOOD DUCK. TREE DUCK. 



Anas sponsa, ..... Ljjtn^us. 



Anas — A Duck. Sponsa — A bride. 



This handsome bird has occasionally been obtained, apparently in an entirely wild 

 state, in various parts of England. Some of these have probably been birds which had 

 escaped from confinement; but, as in the case of some other birds, we see no reason 

 why stragglers may not now and then be driven to our shores, out of their ordinary 

 migratory course. Two male birds of this species were shot, apparently in a wild state, 

 near Deal, in Kent, in 1848- — one on November the 6th., in the meadow at "Walmer 

 Castle ; -the other two days later, in a dyke at Marsh side, Chislet. One of them came 

 into the possession of J. W. Hulke, Esq., of Deal, who recorded the occurrence in the 

 "Zoologist," for 1849. He states that his bird was in beautiful plumage, and was shot 

 within two hundred yards of the sea. Early in the same year, (1848,) a Summer 

 Duck was shot at Tenbury, in Worcestershire, as recorded, also in the "Zoologist," by 

 Martin dirtier, Esq., of Bevere House, Worcester. We therefore give the Summer 

 Duck a place in our list, and we hope that our plate and description may lead to 

 the recognition of other specimens which have hitherto escaped notice. 



The Summer Duck is a native of North America, being found throughout the whole 

 of the United States, and southward as far as some of the West India Islands. It 

 resides the whole year in the Southern States, but is only procured in the Northern 

 during the summer months. 



As an article of food it is good, but, Wilson says, not equal to the Blue-winged 

 Teal, which is greatly esteemed. 



The skin of the head and neck is frequently used by the North American Indians, 

 to ornament the Pipe of Peace, or Calumet; it is commonly stretched over the stem. 

 Its use for this purpose is doubtless on account of its beauty. 



The Summer Duck rarely visits the sea-shore, preferring the quiet inland marshes 



