SUMMER DUCK, OR WOOD DUCK. 
201 
^ cannot discover that this species is found in any of 
j* remote northern parts of onr continent; and this 
j, Probably the cause why it is altogether unknown in 
l^■'*rope. It is abundant from Floridii to New England ; 
is not enumerated among the birds of Hudson’s 
,,^y>or Greenland. Its chief residence is on the sea 
,'l though it also makes extensive excursions up 
*'■’ tide watei-s of our rivers. Like the mallard, they 
dive for food, hut swim and lly with great 
th, 
^iie head, deep dusky brown, intermixed i 
1?'!* with some small s’treaks of drab ; rest < 
*'"igrea 
Nked 
the dusky, or black duck, is two feet in length, and 
‘“ree feet two inches in extent ; the bill, is of a dark 
j enish ash, formed very much like that of the mallard, 
nearly of the same length ; irides, dark ; upper part 
of the head 
kD'eater part of the neck, pale yellow ochre, thickly 
Iced with small streaks of blackish brown; lower 
of the neck, and whole lower parts, deep dusky, 
feather edged with brownisli white, and with fine 
ij *nis of rusty white ; upper parts, the same, hut rather 
|i?Per ; the outer vanes of nine of the. secondaries, 
li^Slit violet blue, forming’ the beauty spot, which is 
Landed on all sides by black ; wings and tail, sooty 
^ n ; tail-feather.s, sharp pointed ; legs and feet, 
yellow; lining of the wings, pure white, 
female has more brown ou her plumage; hut in 
y ®cr respects differs little from the male, both having 
* l*eauty spot ou the wing. 
264 . AX' AS SPOXSA, LINN.V.US AX3> WILSON. 
SDJIlIElt DUCK, Oa WOOD DUCK. 
’CSON, PLATE LXX, FIG, III. EDINBUttGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
*■* most beautiful of all our ducks has probably no 
fjpPcrior among its whole tribe for richness and variety 
Colours. It is called the wood duck, from the cir- 
5 |,''*'*lauce of its breeding in hollow trees; and the 
'^®er duck, from remaining with us chiefly during the 
