404 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
sharp contrast of white. As in the case of the Asiatic species the drake wears 
the fine clothes while the duck dresses sombrely. It winters at the south, but 
migrates as far north as Nova Scotia. It frequents ponds and marshes but 
builds its nest in the hollows of trees and covers it with small feathers and 
sticks. Audubon says 
that when the nest is 
at some distance from 
the water, the duck 
will carry in its bill 
the ducklings, taking 
them one at a time to 
their natural element; 
on the other hand, if 
the tree be in the 
immediate vicinity the 
ducklings are allowed 
to drop from the tree 
into the water, or are 
compelled by their 
parent to scuffle over 
the ground on foot. 
The Mandarin 
(.Dendronessa galericu- 
lata ) is a typical mal¬ 
lard, but has its habitat 
in Eastern Asia, and 
is distinguished b y 
wearing ruffs on the 
sides of the neck, and 
by fan-like wings. It 
is a species most 
highly prized in 
China, and rarely seen 
in other countries even 
as a naturalized citi¬ 
zen or a forced so¬ 
journer. The plumage 
of the drake is remark¬ 
ably beautiful but in 
the summer time he 
exchanges it for the 
soberest brown and 
gray which are the 
colors uniformly worn 
by his better half. 
During the other sea¬ 
sons the drake luxuriates in the most bewildering combination of the richest 
purple, russet, green and white. He is strictly monogamous and with his 
spouse is to be found perched on trees which border on the ponds in China. 
NEST OE THE WATER HEN (Fulicd chlOTOpUS ). 
