THE WILD FOWL OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER. 361 



The ring-necked scaup (At/iya collaris), though partial to our lakes and ponds, 

 is not so often met with along the river. With the exception of a chestnut 

 collar or neck ring, this species does not differ materially in its markings from 

 the other Athyae. 



Another species, the pintail (Dafila acuta), known also as the " piketail" and 

 "sprigtail," is sometimes found here, though by no means common. It is 

 distinguished principally by its central tail feathers, which are black and about 

 seven and a half inches in length. 



The pintail arrives here usually in September, but sometimes it is not seen 

 until October. When the teal put in an appearance the pintail may be looked for. 

 Huntington speaks of a remarkable performance of this bird, that of drumming like 

 the snipe, arising high in the air, and then falling suddenly, producing a loud drum- 

 ming sound by the action of the wings. It frequents our marshes with the mallard, 

 and is often shot over decoys at the same time. It is one of our best table birds. 



A favorite bird here, because of its superior table qualities, is the shoveller 

 (Spatula clypeata), often known to our sportsmen as the "red-breasted shoveller." 

 For table use it also is considered by many far superior to the canvas back. 



In plumage it is one of the most beautiful birds that visit us ; and hence I 

 indulge in a description of an adult male, as given by Mr. Gurdon Trumbull: 

 "Head and upper neck of a very dark greenish tone with purple reflections; 

 lower neck and breast white; belly and flanks rich chestnut brown; front part of 

 wing conspicuously blue, of light shade but vivid; back of this blue, a green wing 

 mark or speculum, bordered with white and black; feathers striped with white 

 sweeping backward from inner region of wings; back dusky brown; rump above 

 and below tail black with greenish gloss; at either end of tail a white patch." 

 Though not especially numerous, enough of these birds are seen from time to 

 time to keep the epicurean sportsman on the qui vive, in the hope of securing a 

 brace or two for his game bag. 



One of our home breeders, conceded to be the most beautifid of our water 

 fowls, and scarcely inferior to any for table use, is the wood duck (Aix sponsa), 

 also called the "summer duck." I refrain from attempting a description of this 

 beautiful bird, because mere words can give no adequate idea of its gorgeous 

 plumage; and, moreover, it is so well known that description is superflous. Only 

 a colored plate could give an appreciable idea at the best. Mr. Huntington says: 

 "The wood duck is the most beautiful duck in the world." 



Linnaeus named this bird sponsa, the bride; but that seems rather inconsistent, 

 since it is the bridegroom that appears in gorgeous raiment, while the bride is a 

 plain little body, very modestly attired. 



