CINCINNATI ZOO GUIDE 
overhanging the water. When the young are all hatched, the 
female carries them one by one in her bill to the water. 
The Pintail Duck (Defila acuta). This duck derives its name 
from its long-pointed tail feathers. It is a winter visitor of 
moderate climates, arriving in October and departing in the 
spring. The male is most elegantly marked. Its head and neck 
are a rich dark brown, its back is beautifully penciled with 
black on a gray ground; the throat, breast and abdomen are 
snowy white; a line of the same color runs up the sides of the 
neck to the head. The length of this bird is about twenty 
inches. The pintail duck is frequently seen in company with 
mallards, teal and widgeons on creeks and ponds. 
The Mandarin Duck {Axis galericulata). This is the most 
beautiful, in appearance, of all the ducks. It is a native of China 
and Japan. They are as much admired in China for the beauty 
of their plumage as they are in Europe. In the markets at 
Canton they may be seen in cages for sale, and are sold at from 
$ 6.00 to $10.00 per pair. In the month of June the male bird 
loses his fine crest and brilliant colors. In the next three months 
he assumes a brown mottled color, very much resembling his 
mate. Like the wood duck, this bird nests in hollow trees. 
Blue-Winged Teal (Querquedula discors). This is one of the 
smallest American fresh water ducks. During the migration it is 
abundant in the Missouri region. Some hunters claim it breeds 
there. This duck is the first to return to us from the north in the 
fall. It flies rapidly, and when it alights it drops down suddenly 
like the woodcock. 
Demoiselle Crane (.Anthropoides virgo). This is a handsome 
little crane from Africa, two and a half feet in height. This bird 
is also called secretary crane. It derives its name from the 
white feathers which extend back of the eyes, with the exception 
of the head, neck and breast, which are a deep black gray; the 
general tint of the plumage is blue gray. In captivity, it is a very 
playful bird, jumping about, flapping its wings and bowing its 
head in a graceful manner. 
The Secretary Bird {Serpentarius secretarius). This bird is a 
native of South Africa. A genus of birds of prey, which has been 
