528 BIRDS—ANATIDA. 
Habitat, North America. Europe. Asia. Australia. In this conntry throughout the 
continent, breeding from Texas to Alaska, and wintering abundantly from the Middle 
districts sonthward to Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica. 
Very common spring and fall migrant, summer resident in part. This 
beautiful bird is more frequently seen in this vicinity singly or in pairs 
than in flocks, and as often in ditches and wet places as in streams; not 
unfrequently found in wet woodland. Breeds in some portions of the 
State and in the vicinity of Columbus where it is not known to breed, 
often remains in spring for weeks after all others have left. 
Genus AIX. Swainson. 
Bill shorter than the head, elevated at base. Tail half the wing. 
Arx sPONsA (L.) Boie. 
Sunmamer Duck: Wood Duck. 
Anas sponsa, AUDUBON, Orn. Biog., ii, 1835, 52; B. Am., vi, 1843, 277.-KiRTLAND, Prelim. 
Rep. Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 67; Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 166, 186. 
Aix sponsa, WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 370; Roprint, 1861, 12; Food of Birds, 
etc. Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 574; Reprint, 1875, 14. LANGDON, Cat. Birds of Cin., 
1877, 17; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1, 1879, 185; Reprint, 19. 
Summer Duck, KIRTLAND, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 1, 72. 
Anas sponsa, LINNZUS, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 207. 
Aiz sponsa, Born, Isis, 1826, 329. 
Crested ; head iridescent green and purple, with parailel curved white superoiliary 
and post-ocular stripes, and a broad white throat-patch; length, 18-20; wing, 84-94; 
tail, 44-5; tarsus, 14-14; bill, 14. Female with the head mostly gray. 
Habitat, North America, especially United States, breeding throughout in suitable 
places, and wintering chiefly in the south. Cuba. 
Summer resident. Common migrant, and breeding throughout the 
State. The above description, while it answers all purposes for identifica- 
tion, gives no conception of the coloring of this most beautiful of all our 
ducks. In fact the variety, richness and lustre of its plumage are such 
that no description can give an adequate conception. 
Nest in holes of trees; eggs greenish buff, 2.00 by 1.50. 
It is frequently for a time domesticated, of which Dr. Kirtland gives 
the following account (Family Visitor, |. c.): 
‘¢Tn answer to your queries respecting the domestication of the Summer cr Wood 
Duck, I would staée that H. T. Kirtland, Esq., of Mahoning county, succeeded on several 
occasions in domesticating that beantirfal bird, many years since; and at one time had 
on hand a considerable flock. 
‘‘ He had trained a small dog so thoroughly that it would pass along the shores of the 
creeks and bayous in the vicinity during the summer, where flocks of the old and young 
ducks were congregating, and before the latter were sufficiently fledged to take to the 
wing. Alarmed at the approach of an enemy, the old ones would sound their peculiar 
