The Bird Book Part 17

[Ill.u.s.tration 096: Lead gray.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pintail. Shoveller.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Dull olive gray.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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144. WOOD DUC. _Aix sponsa._

Range.--Temperate North America, breeding from Labrador and British Columbia south to Florida.

Bridal Duck is a name often given to this, the most beautiful of all Ducks.

They are beautifully marked, have a large crest, and are iridescent with all colors of the rainbow. They frequent wooded country near ponds and lakes, feeding on water insects and mollusks in the coves. They build their nests in hollow trees and stumps, often at quite a distance from the water. When the young are a few days old, they slide, scramble, or flutter down the tree trunk to the ground below, and are led to the water. The nest is made of twigs, weeds and gra.s.s, and warmly lined with down. The eggs are a buff color and number eight to fifteen. Size 2.

1.5.

145. RUFOUS-CRESTED DUCK. _Netta rufina._

A European species; a single specimen taken on Long Island in 1872.

146. REDHEAD. _Marila americana._

Range.--North America at large, breeding from northern United States northward, chiefly in the interior.

A bird commonly seen in the markets where it is often sold as the following species because of their similarity. The nests are placed on the ground in marshes or sloughs, and are made of gra.s.ses, lined with feathers. Eggs from six to fourteen in number, of a buffy white color.

Size 2.40 1.70.

[Ill.u.s.tration 097: Rich buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Wood Duck. Redhead.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Buffy.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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[Ill.u.s.tration 098: WOOD DUCK.]

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147. CANVAS-BACK. _Marila valisineria._

Range.--Whole of North America, breeding chiefly in the interior from the United States to the Arctic Ocean.

A noted table bird, especially in the south where it feeds on wild celery. Can be distinguished from the Redhead by its darker head, lighter back, and gradually sloping bill. They nest abundantly in Manitoba, their habits being the same as the preceding. They lay from six to ten eggs of a darker shade than the Red-heads. Size 2.40 1.70.

Data.--Haunted Lake, N. Alberta, June 12, 1897. Ten eggs. Nest of reeds in a heavy reed bed out in the lake. Collector, Walter Raine.

148. SCAUP DUCK. _Marila marila._

Range.--North America, breeding from North Dakota northward, chiefly in the interior; south in winter to Central America.

This and the following species are widely known as "Blue-bills" owing to the slaty blue color of that member. Their plumage is black and white, somewhat similar in pattern to that of the Redhead, but darker, and the whole head is black. They nest in marshes about many of the ponds and lakes in the interior of British America. The nest is made of marsh gra.s.ses and lined with feathers. The six to ten eggs are pale grayish or greenish gray. Size 2.50 1.70. Data.--Saltcoats Marshes, N. W. Canada, June 15, 1901. Ten eggs. Nest in the gra.s.s; a depression lined with down and dried gra.s.ses. Collector, Walter Raine.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CANVAS-BACK. American Scaup Duck.]

[Ill.u.s.tration 099: Pale greenish gray.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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149. LESSER SCAUP DUCK. _Marila affinis._

Range.--North America, breeding from North Dakota and British Columbia northward; winters south to Central America.

This Duck is distinguished from the preceding, chiefly by its size which is about two inches less, or 17 inches in length. The nesting habits are the same as those of the Greater Scaup and the eggs are similar but smaller. Size 2.25 1.55. Data.--Northern a.s.siniboia, June 10, 1901.

Ten eggs on gra.s.s and down at the edge of a lagoon. Collector, Walter Raine.

150. RING-NECKED DUCK. _Marila collaris._

Range.--North America, breeding in the interior, from North Dakota and Washington northward. Winters from Maryland on the east and British Columbia on the west to Central America.

Similar to the Lesser Scaup in size and plumage, except that it has a narrow chestnut collar around the neck, the back is black instead of barred with white, and the speculum is gray instead of white. The habits and nesting habits of the Ring-neck do not differ from those of the other Scaups. They lay from six to twelve eggs. Size 2.25 1.60.

Data.--Cape Bathurst, N. Y. T., June 18, 1901. Ten eggs in a slight hollow in the moss, lined with down. Collector, Captain Bodfish.

[Ill.u.s.tration 100: Lesser Scaup Duck. Ring-necked Duck.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lead gray.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco-photo.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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151. GOLDEN-EYE. _Clangula clangula americana._

Range.--North America, breeding both on the coast and in the interior, from the northern border of the United States northward to the Arctic Ocean.

These are handsome Ducks known as "Whistlers" from the noise of their wings when flying, and "Greatheads" because of the puffy crest. The head is greenish with a large round white spot in front of, and a little below the eye. The rest of the plumage is black and white. This species nests in hollow trees near the water, lining the cavity with gra.s.s, moss and leaves, and lining the nest with down from their b.r.e.a.s.t.s. In May and June they lay from six to ten eggs of a grayish green color. Size 2.30 1.70.

152. BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. _Clangula islandica._

Range.--Northern North America, breeding north of the United States except from the mountainous portions of Colorado northward.

This Golden-eye differs from the preceding chiefly in the shape of the white spot before the eye, which in this species is in the form of a crescent. The size is the same, about 20 inches in length. The reflections on the head are purplish rather than greenish as in the preceding. The nesting habits are the same, they building in hollow trees near water. The six to ten eggs are not different from the preceding. Size 2.30 1.65. Data.--Alfusa, Iceland, June 30, 1900.

Seven eggs. Nest of gra.s.s and down in a box attached to a tree by an islander.

[Ill.u.s.tration 101: Grayish green.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: American Golden-eye. Barrow Golden-eye.]