22 SUMMER DUCK. 
wing or back of the neck, and landed them safely at the foot 
of the tree, whence she afterwards led them to the water. 
Under this same tree, at the time I visited it, a large sloop 
lay on the stocks, nearly finished; the deck was not more than 
twelve feet distant from the nest, yet, notwithstanding the pre- 
sence and noise of the workmen, the ducks would not abandon 
their old breeding-place, but continued to pass out and in, as 
if no person had been near. The male usually perched on an 
adjoining limb, and kept watch while the female was laying, 
and also often while she was sitting. A tame goose had 
chosen a hollow space at the root of the same tree to lay and 
hatch her young in. 
The summer duck seldom flies in flocks of more than three 
or four individuals together, and most commonly in pairs or 
singly. The common note of the drake is peet, peet ; but when, 
standing sentinel, he sees danger, he makes a noise not unlike 
the crowing of a young cock, oe eek! oe eek / Their food 
consists principally of acorns, seeds of the wild oats, and in- 
sects. Their flesh is inferior to that of the blue-winged teal. 
They are frequent in the markets of Philadelphia, 
Among other gaudy feathers with which the Indians orna- 
ment the calumet or pipe of peace, the skin of the head and 
neck of the summer duck is frequently seen covering the stem, 
This beautiful bird has often been tamed, and soon becomes 
so familiar as to permit one to stroke its back with the hand. 
I have seen individuals so tamed in various parts of the Union. 
Captain Boyer, collector of the port of Havre-de-Grace, in- 
forms me that, about forty years ago, a Mr Nathan Nicols, 
who lived on the west side of Gunpowder Creek, had a whole 
yard swarming with summer ducks, which he had tamed and 
completely domesticated, so that they bred and were as fami- 
liar as any other tame fowls; that he (Captain Boyer) himself 
saw them in that state, but does not know what became of 
them. Latham says that they are often kept in European 
menageries, and will breed there.* 
* General Synopsis, iii. 547. 
