272 THE WOOD DUCK. 



This beautiful species ranges over the whole extent of the United States, 

 and I have seen it in all parts from Louisiana to the confines of Maine, and 

 from the vicinity of our Atlantic coasts as far inland as my travels have 

 extended. It also occurs sparingly during the breeding-season in Nova 

 Scotia; but farther north I did not observe it. Everywhere in this immense 

 tract I have found it an almost constant resident, for some spend the winter 

 even in Massachusetts, and far up the warm spring waters of brooks on the 

 Missouri. It confines itself, however, entirely to fresh water, preferring at 

 all times the secluded retreats of the ponds, bayous, or creeks, that occur so 

 profusely in our woods. Well acquainted with man, they carefully avoid 

 him, unless now and then during the breeding-season, when, if a convenient 

 spot is found by them in which to deposit their eggs and raise their young, 

 they will even locate themselves about the miller's dam. 



The flight of this species is remarkable for its speed, and the ease and 

 elegance with which it is performed. The Wood Duck passes through the 

 woods and even amongst the branches of trees, with as much facility as the 

 Passenger Pigeon; and while removing from some secluded haunt to its 

 breeding-grounds, at the approach of night, it shoots over the trees like a 

 meteor, scarcely emitting any sound from its wings. In the lower parts of 

 Louisiana and Kentucky, where they abound, these regular excursions are 

 performed by flocks of from thirty to fifty or more individuals. In several 

 instances I have taken perhaps undue advantage of their movements to shoot 

 them on the wing, by placing myself between their two different spots of 

 resort, and keeping myself concealed. In this manner I have obtained a 

 number in the course of an hour of twilight; and I have known some keen 

 sportsmen kill as many as thirty or forty in a single evening. This sport is 

 best in the latter part of autumn, after the old males have joined the flocks 

 of young led by the females. Several gunners may then obtain equal suc- 

 cess by placing themselves at regular distances in the line of flight, when the 

 birds having in a manner to run the gauntlet, more than half of a flock have 

 been brought down in the course of their transit. While passing through 

 the air on such occasions, the birds are never heard to emit a single note. 



The Wood Duck breeds in the Middle States about the beginning of 

 April, in Massachusetts a month later, and in Nova Scotia or on our 

 northern lakes, seldom before the first days of June. In Louisiana and Ken- 

 tucky, where I have had better opportunities of studying their habits in this 

 respect, they generally pair about the 1st of March, sometimes a fortnight 

 earlier. I never knew one of these birds to form a nest on the ground, or 

 on the branches of a tree. They appear at all times to prefer the hollow 

 broken portion of some large branch, the hole of our large Woodpecker 

 (Picus principalis), or the deserted retreat of the fox-squirrel; and I have 



