WOOD DUCK. 529) 
notes and fly away, and the ducklings stealthily run on shore and conceai themselves 
among the weeds and grass. The faithful dog would trace them out, one by one, and 
as soon as he had detected one, would place it betweeen his two fore-paws and retain it 
without injury, till my brother would secure it. 
‘‘ In this way he could take avy desirable number. At one time, he had a large flock 
that were full-grown and in their full plumage, which in the males is more beautiful 
than the peacocks, or any American bird. 
‘‘ They were restrained within the enclosure of his garden and door-yard, containing 
perhaps an acre of ground, and were apparently as tame as our common domestic Mal- 
lards. 
‘‘ At a time when some of them were preparing their nests, in hollow logs furnished 
them for the purpose, a mischievous pole-cat found his way into the premises, and 
destroyed several of the females. This interrupted them for that season. The survivors 
were neglected and permitted to escape to a creek in the vicinity, and before the return 
of another season were destroyed by hunters. Since that time he has not renewed the 
attempt to domesticate them ; but his efforts convinced me of its feasibility. The faith- 
ful dog has lang since been dead, and the ducks are now very rare in that neighborhood. 
‘¢ A few years since, while engaged in taking insects with a light net, I unexpectedly 
eame across an old duck with her brood, consisting of perhaps half a dozen indivi- 
duals. They were feeding in an artificial ditch, with nearly perpendicular banks. The 
mother sounded an alarm and flew away—the young could not creep up the sides of the 
ditch, and therefore attempted to escape by swimming. I threw the millinet bag over 
two of them which I secured without injury. After amusing myself with them and 
observing their trepidation I let them take their way. 
‘‘Not only this species but many others might be successfully tamed and introduced 
into our poultry yards. There is no obstacle to the accomplishment of this purpose with 
the Black, Gadwall, Pochard, Teals and Canvas-back Ducks. Their habits are no more 
unfavorable than those of the Mallard which was the parent of the domestic kind. 
‘We doubt not that the Snow and the White-fronted Geese, which are still common 
in some parts of the west, could be reduced to the same condition. I know that the 
Canada Goose has often bred about the Bead, and that the Sandhill Crane may 
become one of the most familiar pets.” 
Sub-family Futiautinz. Sea Ducks. 
Tarsi secuteilate anteriorly ; feet large; hind toe with a broad membranous lobe. 
GENUS FULIGULA. Stephens. 
Bill with feathers oxtending in a short obtuse angle upon forehead, and as a crescent 
on sides, leaving an acute basal precess uncovered superiorly and laterally on each side. 
Nail of bill small, narrow, distinct, forming only central part of tip. Tail short, rounded, 
about one-third the wing. 
Sub-genus Fulix, Bill broad, about equal to inner toe and claw, its sides parellel to 
the end or widening, the nostrils in its posterior twe fifths. 
FULIGULA MARILA (L.) Stephens. 
Greater Black-head. 
Fuligula marilla, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 166, 187.—WHEATON, Food of 
Birds, etc., Ohio Geolog. Rep. for 1874, 1875, 574; Reprint, 14. 
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