SUMMER DUCK OF CAROLINA. 
' According to Du Pratz, this beautiful Duck 
inhabits Louisiana. The Branch Ducks," 
says this author, " are somewhat larger than 
our teals. Their plumage is so exceedingly- 
beautiful, and so changing, that painting can- 
not imitate it. They have on the head a 
beautiful crest of the brightest colours, and 
their red eyes appear like flames. The natives 
deck their calumets or pipes with the skin of 
the neck. Their flesh is very good ; but,- 
when too fat, it has an oily taste. This spe- 
cies of Duck is not migratory : it is found in 
all seasons j and it perches, which the rest'' 
do not.'* 
The Summer Duck of Carolina is sm.aller 
than the common Duck; but it's legs are' 
longer in proportion. These rich descrip- 
tions, however, apply only to the m.ale, or 
drake ; for the female is as simply clodied as 
the male is pompously attired. She is, in 
faiTt, almost brov/n ; " having however,'*'' 
according to Edwards, something of the 
crest of the male." T'his observer adds, that 
he received several of these charming Ducks 
alive 
