made a cavity, in which they ate their millet, mixed with earth. 1 put them into a room, and they carried in the same way, though to little purpose, the millet and water to the deal floor. I led them on the grass, and they seemed to do nothing but dig for seeds, without eating the blades, or even the earth-worms. They pursued flies, and snapped at them like Ducks. When I delayed to give them their accustomed food, they called for it with a feeble hoarse cry, quoak, repeated every minute. In the evening they lay in the corners; and even during the day, when any person went near them, they hid themselves in the narrowest holes. They lived thus till the approach of winter, but when the severe cold set in, they both died suddenly."

THE GADWALL, OR GREY.

The Gadwall inhabits the northern regions of both continents, but does not in America,

GADWALL.

and according to Richardrdson, proceed farther than the 68th parallel, and in Europe it seems not to advance higher than Sweden. In the Russian empire it extends over most of the latitudes of the European and Siberian part, except the east of the latter and Kamtschat

ka. In their migrations they pass chiefly into the warmer parts of Europe, being very rare in England, but common on the coasts of France, Italy, and Sardinia. In the United States it appears to be generally rare. A few of the young birds are seen in this vicinity; and Wilson met with it in the interior on Seneca Lake, in October, and in February, at Louisville on the Ohio; and near the Big Bone Lick, in Kentucky.

The Gadwall breeds in the woody districts of the remote northern fur countries of Canada. In the north of Europe they inhabit the vast rushy marshes; and in Holland, where they are common, they associate in the same places with the Wild Duck or Mallard. They nest in meadows and among rushes, laying eight or nine greenish gray eggs. They are very much esteemed as game, are very alert at diving and swimming, and plunging at the flash of the gun are obtained with difficulty. It is very timorous, lurking in the marshes by day, feeding only in the twilight of the morning and evening, and often till some time after night-fall; they are then heard flying in company with the Whistlers, and like these obey the call of the decoy Ducks. Their cry much resembles that of the common Wild Duck; nor is it more raucous or louder, though Gesner seems to have meant to characterize its note by applying the epithet strepera, which has been

THE AMERICAN WIDGEON.

773

adopted by succeeding ornithologists. Their food, consists of small fish, shelly mollusca, insects and aquatic plants.

THE AMERICAN WIDGEON.

This species, so nearly allied to the European Widgeon, has not been found in the

old continent, yet it retires north to breed, inhabiting in summer the woody districts of the remote fur countries, near the Saskatchewan and the coasts of Hudson's Bay, as far as the 68th degree of northern latitude. In autumn and winter they

are seen common

in nearly all parts of the Union,

AMERICAN WIDGEON.

many wintering in North and South Carolina in the open rivers and bays, sometimes considerably inland. Indeed I have never seen them any where so numerous as in the Neuse river, round Newbern, forty miles from the ocean, where in company with the Canvas Back and Buffel-Head, they are seen constantly in February and March They are also numerous in Chesapeake Bay; and in the course of the winter extend their migrations as far as St. Domingo and other of the West India islands, as well as into Cayenne in the tropical parts of the continent. They are also observed in the interior of the United States, as on the Missouri, and probably other inland parts, where in the month of April, as well as on the sea coast, they are seen on their way to their northern breeding places to which they repair in May, on the thawing of the ice, and are then commonly associated by pairs. According to Hutchins their eggs are from six to eight; and they frequent the swamps, and feed much on insects.

The Widgeon, or Bald Pate, is a frequent attendant on the CanvasBack, and often profits by this association. The former, not being commonly in the habit of diving for subsistence, or merely from caprice, watches the motions of its industrious neighbor, and as soon as the Canvas-Back rises with the favorite root on which they both greedily feed, the Bald-Pate snatches the morsel and makes off with his booty. They are always very alert and lively, feeding and swimming out into the ponds and rivers at all hours of the day, but are extremely watchful, sheltering in coves and behind the land, and on the slightest attempt to steal upon them, immediately row out into

the stream beyond gun-shot, and then only take to wing when much disturbed.

SUMMER DUCK.

THE SUMMER, OR WOOD DUCK.

This most beautiful of Ducks seems to be dressed in a studied attire, to which the addition of a flowing crest adds a finish of peculiar elegance; and hence Linnæus has dignified the species with the title of sponsa or the bride. This splendid bird, according to Nuttall, is peculiar to America but extends its residence from the cold regions of Hudson's Bay in the 54th parallel to Mexico and the Antilles. Throughout a great part of this vast space, or at least as far south as Florida and the Mississippi territory, the Summer Duck is known to breed. In the interior they are also found in the State of Missouri, and along the woody borders and still streams which flow into most of the great north-western lakes of the St. Lawrence. The Summer Duck, so called from its constant residence in the United States, has indeed but little predilection for the sea coast, its favorite haunts being the solitary, deep, and still waters, ponds, woody lakes, and the mill dams in the interior, making its nest often in decayed and hollow trees impending over the water.

Though many migrate probably to the shores of the Mexican Gulf, numbers pass the winter in the States south of Virginia. Early in February they are seen associated by pairs on the inundated banks of the Alabama, and are frequent at the same season in the waters of West Florida. In Pennsylvania they usually nest late in April or early in May, choosing the hollow of some broken or decayed tree, and sometimes even constructing a rude nest of sticks in the forks of branches. The eggs twelve or thirteen are yellowish-white, rather less than those of the domestic Hen, and they are usually covered with down, probably plucked from the breast of the parent. The same tree is sometimes occupied, by the same pair, for several successive years, in the breeding season. The young, when hatched, are carried down in the bill of the female, and afterwards conducted by her to the nearest water. To these places, when once selected, if not disturbed, they sometimes show a strong predilection, and are not easily induced to forsake the premises, however invaded by noise and bustle. While the female is sitting, the male is usually perched on some adjoining limb of the same tree, keeping watch for their common safety. The species is scarcely ever gregarious, they are only seen in pairs or by families.

The Wood Duck has sometimes been tamed, and soon becomes familiar. They have even been so far domesticated as to run about at large in the barn yard like ordinary fowls. In France they have also been acclimated and tamed, and have bred in this condition.

THE AMERICAN TEAL.

775

THE AMERICAN TEAL.

The Green-Winged Teal, as a species, is common to the northern

and temperate

parts of both con

tinents. The

American bird appears to be a permanent and distinct variety. There is, according to Dr. Richardson, however, in the Hudson's Bay Museum, a specimen from the fur countries agreeing in all respects with the European species. Our variety is abundant to the

extremity of the continent, both in the woody and barren districts of the remote fur countries of Hudson's Bay. It is also plentiful about Severn river, in the woods and plains near fresh waters, where it breeds, the young being about six or seven at a hatch. It feeds much upon fresh-water insects, seeds, and aquatic plants, and when fat is delicate food. In the autumn and winter it is very common throughout the waters of the United States, both in the interior and contiguous to the sea coast. In the course of the winter they retire as far south as Jamaica, and are probably common also along the coasts of the Mexican Gulf. It frequents ponds, marshes, the reedy shores of creeks and rivers, and in winter is very abundant in the rice plantations of the South. They usually fly in small parties, feeding mostly by night; associating with the Mallard, and are commonly decoyed by its call.

The Teal is found in the north of Europe as far as Greenland and Iceland, and it also inhabits the borders of the Caspian to the south. In France and England it is said to breed. They are commonly seen on the pools, in close companies of ten or twelve together, frequenting the rivers and unfrozen springs in winter, where they subsist on aquatic plants. They fly very swiftly, and utter a sort of whistling cry. The Teal breeds in the fens, continuing in the temperate parts of Europe the whole year. It conceals its nest among the bulrushes, constructing it of their stalks, and lining it with feathers; it rests also sometimes on the surface of the water, so as to rise and fall with the flood. The eggs are about ten or twelve, of a soiled white, indistinctly marked with brown spots. The female takes the whole man

agement of the incubation; the males, at this time, seem to leave them and associate for themselves in companies.

THE MUSK, OR MUSCOVY DUCK.

The Musk Duck derives its name from its exhaling at times a

strong odor of that drug. The term Muscovy is wholly misapplied, since it is an exclusive native of the warmer and tropical parts of America and its islands. They exist wild in Brazil, Demerara, and the overflowed savannas of Guianna, and are occasionally seen along the coasts of the Mexi can Gulf, in the lower part of Mississippi, and stragglers are frequently observed along the coasts of the warmer parts of the Union. They feed in the tropical savannas chiefly upon the seeds of some grasses which resemble, and are called, wild rice; flying in the morning to those immense and overflowed meadows to feed, and returning in the evening to their roosts near the sea. They are said to pass the warmer parts of the day indolently perched upon trees, which overhang the rivers and marshes, in the hollows of which, like our Wood Ducks, they construct their nest, and convey the young to the water as soon as they are hatched. They breed at all times of the year, and are very prolific, but many of the young fall victims to the Caymans and other predatory animals with which those countries are infested. The eggs are nearly quite round and of a greenish-white color. The male is very ardent and readily couples with the domestic Duck. In a wild state they are very shy and watchful and approached with difficulty.

The Musk Duck is now commonly domesticated, feeds and fattens well, is deservedly esteemed as food, more particularly the young, and though derived from the mildest of climates, endures the winter of the Eastern and Northern States without any difficulty or hardship. In the poultry-yard, like Turkeys, they have very singular and exciting antipathies. On such occasions both Ducks and Drakes shake their tails, stretch out their heads, and hiss and quack in a low tone with great affectation of anger and earnest. The male puffs and blows very much, but the whole one by one make their retreat before a small clucking Hen, who seems to view them with total indifference. Two males will also sometimes wage a very warm but harmless war in jealousy. In Virginia and North Carolina these domestic birds begin to lay as early as February.