OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL DUCKS 
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a color-scheme of brilliant reds, greens, blacks, 
browns, yellows and whites which is quite be- 
wildering. Even its weak little bill is colored 
scarlet and white, and its iris is bright red. 
In my opinion the claims of the two duck 
species which are rivals for the prize for web- 
footed beauty may fairly be expressed by the 
following proportion : 
The Pintail is to the Wood-Duck as a well- 
gowned American Woman is to a Chinese Man- 
darin. 
The Wood-Duck needs no description. 
Among ducks it is equalled in gorgeous colors 
only by its nearest relative, the mandarin duck 
of China — a painted harlequin. Our species 
is a tree-duck, and not only perches on trees, 
but also makes its nest in them, and rears its 
young at an elevation of from ten to thirty or 
forty feet. The nesting-site is always above 
water, in order that as the ducklings finally 
scramble out of the nest and fall, they will 
alight in the water without injury, and quickly 
learn to swim. 
In captivity the best nesting arrangement 
for this bird consists of a long, narrow box 
set on end on a stout post, well out in a pond, 
roofed over to keep out the rain. There must 
be a hole in one side, near the top, and a slanting 
board with cross slats reaching up to it from the 
water, for use as a ladder. The Wood-Duck 
will sometimes nest on the ground, either in 
captivity or out. This species is being bred in 
captivity in England in large numbers, and 
also with some success in this country. Duck 
fanciers find no difficulty in purchasing live 
specimens of this interesting bird at $15 per 
pair. 
During the summer of 1902, a pair of wild 
Wood-Ducks made daily visits to the Ducks’ 
Aviary in the New York Zoological Park, and 
in the autumn of that year a small flock settled 
with the Wood-Ducks, mallards and pintails on 
the Aquatic Mammals’ Pond, and remained there 
permanently. In the spring of 1903, a fine 
drake manifested a fixed determination to break 
into the great Flying Cage, and become a mem- 
ber of the happy family within. After he had 
flown around the cage two or three times, 
Keeper Gannon opened wide the wire gates at 
the north end, drove him in, and he is there now, 
serene and happy. 
The Wood-Duck is a bird of great discern- 
ment. 
Although this bird is called the Summer- 
Duck, and migrates far in advance of winter, it 
winters very comfortably in the northern 
states if it is fed and continuously provided 
with open water to keep its feet from freezing. 
The natural range of this species is from Hud- 
son Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, chiefly on fresh 
water; but often it is found on brackish sounds 
and channels along the Atlantic coast where 
food is plentiful. 
Like all other wild ducks that are impera- 
WOOD-DUCK. 
Male and female. . 
tively needed to keep the American people from 
starving, there remains to-day about one Wood- 
Duck where formerly there were from thirty to 
fifty. Apparently, the only winged creatures 
that are too beautiful or too good to be shot 
and eaten are angels; but I doubt if even a 
white-winged seraph with webbed feet would 
be safe for half an hour anywhere between Cape 
Cod and Charleston. 
The Redhead Duck 1 is one of our largest 
and best species, and one of the most satis- 
factory to keep in captivity. It belongs to the 
same genus as the canvas-back, and in size, 
habits, table value and beauty it is in no sense 
1 Ay-thy'a americana. Average length, 19 inches. 
