SEA DUCKS. 107

The Pintail is frequently found associated with the Black Duck and Widgeon. As a rule it- is voiceless, but is said to utter “a low- toned quack at night.” The long neck and tail of the male make its identification easy even at a distance.

144. A11 sponsa. (Lima). Woon DUCK. Ad. 6.—-A line from the bill over the eye, a similar line at the base of the side of the crest, and some of the elongated crest—feathers white; throat, a band from it up the side of the head, and a wider one to the nape, white; rest of the cheeks and crown green with purplish reflections; a White band in front of the wings; breast and a spot at either side of the base of the tail purplish chestnut, the former spotted with white; belly white; sides bufl'y ochraceous, finely barred with black, the longer flank feathers tipped with wider bars of black and White: back greenish brown; scapulars blacker; speculum steel-blue; primaries tipped with greenish blue—Ad. 9 .—-Throat and a stripe from the eye back- ward white; crown purplish brown; sides of the head ashy brown; breast and sides grayish brown streaked with butiy; belly white; back olive-brown glossed with greenish ; inner primaries tipped with greenish blue. Im.—The im. a resembles the 9. L.,18'50; W., 9'00; Tar.,1‘35; 8.,1'30.

Range—North America; breeds from Florida to Hudson Bay, and winters southward to southern Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica.

Washington, uncommon P. R. Long Island, uncommon T. V. and W. V., Sept. to Apl.; rare S. R. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R. Cambridge, common T. V., Mch. and Apl.: Aug. to Nov.; a few breed.

Nest, of grasses, leaves, twigs, etc., in a hole in a tree or stump. Eggs, eight to fourteen, pale butl'y white, 205 x 1'50.

Woodland ponds and forest-bordered streams make a proper setting for the grace and beauty of these richly attired birds. Several times it has been my fortune to see them in the unconscious enjoyment of their secluded homes, and I know of no sight in the bird world which so fully satisfies the eye. Alarm them, and with a frightened, plaintive whistle, “ oo-eek,” they spring from the water and make ofl.’ through the woods. At other times they will swim ahead of one’s canoe, and, rounding a bend in the stream, go ashore and walk rapidly away.

The young are brought from the nest to the ground in the bill of the parent.

Subfamily Fuligulinw. Bay and Sea Ducks.

The members of this subfamily are to be distinguished from those of the preceding by the presence of a lobe or web on the hind toe. They are open-water Ducks. frequenting our large lakes, bays, and sea- coasts. Their food consists chiefly of mollusks, crustaceans, and the seeds and roots of aquatic plants. They obtain it principally by div- ing, sometimes descending one hundred and fifty feet or more. The