362 duck. 



back and tail brown ; wings the same, mixed with blue green on 

 the coverts and second quills; across the wing a narrow white bar; 

 quills dusky, edged near the ends with grey, and within with green ; 

 belly white ; legs as in the male. 



The trachea of this sex has some things in common with the 

 Pintail, Gadwal, Wigeon, and Mallard, having like them the lower 

 part, at the divarication, firm and bony : it may be compared to that 

 of the last named bird, but differs in the labyrinthic enlargement, in 

 respect to shape, which is irregularly oval, and placed transversely; 

 the utmost length three quarters of an inch ; it appears on the fore 

 part attached only to one side, but at the back it spreads nearly over 

 the whole of the rings; and at the bottom has a narrow connection 

 with the opposite side of the bony part. 



This beautiful species inhabits Mexico, and some of the West 

 India Isles, migrating in summer as far north as 40deg. or a little 

 beyond. Appears at New York early in spring, and breeds there; 

 makes the nest in the decayed hollows of trees, or such as have been 

 made by Woodpeckers, and often between the forks of the branches, 

 hence called the Summer, or Tree Duck;* when hatched, the mother 

 takes the young on her back to the water. Very common in Georgia 

 and Louisiana the whole winter, and sometimes breeds there ; the 

 eggs twelve in number at least, f pale greenish white, and highly 

 polished. The flesh is much esteemed ; Mr. Abbot observes, that 

 if you put the young ones into a tub, they will climb out by means 

 of the bill and feet. Are often kept tame in our menageries, and 

 breed freely. Of the neck of this species the Americans of Louisiana 

 make their ornaments to the pipes, or calumets of peace. Thev are 

 frequently brought into the markets of Philadelphia for sale. 



* Yet some proceed much farther to the north, as one was shot by Lieutenant Hood, at 

 Cumberland House, in May 1820. 



f Twelve eggs were found in Long Island, on the stump of a decayed tree, and put 

 under a Hen ; eleven were hatched, viz. eight males and three females, the twelfth was 

 destroyed by accident. 



