oxcviii 
Anatid®. BIRDS. Anatid®. 
its sides, and is furnislied with a nail on the tip of 
its mandible. 'I'iie irides are bright orange. 
SUMMER DUCK; WOOD DUCK {Aix sponsa) — 
Plate Vlll, fig. xvii. — 'I’liis is the queen of water- 
birds, and the most beautiful of all, its resplendent 
plumage being hardly excelled by any of its class in 
tropical regions. It is found more particularly in the 
United States, yet ranges in every part of the conti- 
nent, breeding in nearly every quarter, and wintering 
chiefly in the south. This is essentially a bird of 
the interior, as its name imports, being found usually 
on the banks of quiet streams or ponds, away from 
the haunts of man. Another characteristic is that it 
builds its nest on trees. Audubon says: “They 
breed in the Middle States about the middle of 
April ; in Massachusetts, a month later ; and in 
Nova Scotia and on the great lakes, not before 
the first days of June. In Louisiana and Kentucky, 
where I have had greater opportunities of studying 
their habits in tliis respect, they generally pair about 
tlie first of Marcli, sometimes a fortnight earlier. I 
never knew one of these birds to form a nest on the 
ground, or on the small branches of a tree ; they ap- 
pear at all times to prefer the hollow, broken portion 
of some large branch, the hole of our large Wood- 
pecker, or the deserted retreat of the Pox Squirrel ; 
and I liave frequently been surprised to see them go 
in and out of a liole of any one of tliese, wlien their 
bodies, when on wing, seemed to be nearly half as 
large again as tlie aperture in which they had de- 
|)Osited tlieir eggs. Once only I found a nest in the 
fissure of a rock. Generally the holes in which they 
lay are over cane-brakes, in deep swamps, or in 
broken brandies of liigh sycamores. No sooner has 
tlie female completed her set of eggs than the male 
disappears, joining others until the young are able to 
fly, when they rejoin their mates, and so remain 
until the commencement of the next breeding season. 
On coming to a nest when the female is away in 
search of food, I always found the eggs covered by 
down and feathers, although quite out of sight, in 
the depth of a hole. If the nest is placed immedi- 
ately over the water, the young, immediately when 
hatched, scramble to the mouth of the hole, and 
spread their tiny wings and feet, and drop into the 
water ; but whenever the nest is away some distance 
from a stream, the mother takes them tenderly in 
her bill, one at a time, and carries them to their 
favorite element. On several occasions they led 
them to the stream, when it was not far distant, 
calling Pepe, pe e ! often and rapidly.” 'J'he Sum- 
mer Duck is nineteen inches in length, and two feet 
four inches in extent of wings. The bill is red, 
margined with black. 
GREATER SCAUP DUCK [Fuligula marilla). — 'I'his 
bird is also called Bio Black-head, Blue-bill and 
Shuffler. It inhabits the whole of North America 
Greenland, and Purope and Asia, fi’he Scaup is, 
said to obtain its name from the circumstance of its 
feeding on a fresh-water plant of that name. It is, 
however, common to the salt as well as fresh-waters, 
feeding also on small snails, which, like others of 
its tribe, it does by moonlight. 'The flesh is not 
esteemed as highly as others. 'J’his species is well- 
known in England and the northern parts of Europe. 
Length, nineteen inches ; extent of wing, twenty-nine. 
'The bill is broad, generally of a light blue ; irides 
reddish. 
LESSER SCAUP DUCK {Fuligula Called 
in some localities Little Black-head, Blue-bill and 
Broad-bill. Dr. Cones says : “Authors are at vari- 
ance concerning the relationship of this bird to the 
preceding, and the question is not yet settled. For 
myself, I am rather inclined to keep the two apart, 
notwithstanding their very close resemblance, and 
admitting the probability that intermediate examples 
may be found. 'I’liere appears to be something dif- 
ferent in their range, the F. affinis being the more 
southerly. Not that it does not, in the breeding 
season, reach as high latitudes as the other, but that 
its autumnal movement is pushed to the West Indies 
and Central America, where the true F. marilla is 
not recorded as occurring. It is improbable that 
two varieties, if they be really such, should preserve 
this difference. Good observers have also noticed 
some differences in habit and resorts ; and gunners, 
practically very familiar with both birds, recognize a 
distinction. 'I’he Lesser Black-head seems to be 
more generally distributed in (lie interior of the 
United States than the other, and probably most of 
the ‘ Scaups ’ from that region are of this kind. All 
of the numerous ‘ Scaups ’ I found breeding along the 
Upper Missouri and Milk Eiver appeared to be of 
this species, as were the several specimens examined. 
In some places they seemed more abundant than any 
other species, and they were the principal representa- 
tives of the FuliguUnce, the Buffle-head itself not 
excepted.” 
RING-NECK DUCK {Fuligula coKaris).— Inhabits 
the whole of North America, breeds far north, win- 
ters in the United States and beyond, south to 
Guatemala, Cuba, Jamaica, and is accidental in 
Europe. 'I'liis bird is described in Wilson’s work as 
Anas fuligula, and in common terms as the 'Tufted 
Duck. It seldom visits the sea-shore, but frequents 
the fresh-water streams of the interior. 'I'he flesh is 
somewhat esteemed for its tenderness and pleasant 
taste. 'I’he length of this Duck is seventeen inches; 
extent of wing, two feet two inches. 'I’he bill is 
broad and dusky in color, and the head is crested, 
of a black color, with reflections of purple. 
AMERICAN POCHARD {Fuligula ferina), also 
called the Bed-head, is found in all parts of North 
America, but is particularly plentiful in eastern por- 
tions; breeding in the fur countries, and found winter- 
ing in the Bahamas. During a residence of eight 
years on the 'I’ortugas, we noticed one only, which 
we captured. It is well known as the second in 
rank to the Canvas-back as an edible ; indeed, many 
are sold under the hitter name. 'I’he Red-head, 
when fat, is so excellent that it is not easy always 
to determine the difference. 'I’he two associate, and 
frequent the fresh waters about the James River and 
Chesapeake Bay, feeding on a species of fresh-water 
plant tliat is said to impart a decided flavor to the 
flesh. 
