SUMMER DUCK, OR WOOD DUCK. 
203 
he had seen the female, the spring preceding, carry down 
thirteen young, one by one, in less than ten minutes. 
She caught them in her bill by the 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 notwith- 
standing the presence 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 y peet; but when, standing sentinel, he sees danger, 
he makes a noise not unlike the crowing of a young 
cock, oe eek! oe eekl Their food consists principally of 
acorns, seeds of the wild oats, and insects. 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 
ornament 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, informs 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 
familiar as any other tame fowls ; that he (Captain 
Boyer) himself saw them in that state, but does no 
