WOOD DUCK, or SUMMER DUCE. the most beautiful of American docks (At: span). The bill is very high at the base. than the head; nail very large and much hooked; head crested; tail abort, shaped. The bead and crest are metallic green, glossed on the sides with line through the eye; two bars on side of bead meeting un der the chin, and upper throat, white; lower neck and sides of tall purple, the former with triangular spots of whstei lower parts white; sides yellowish banded with black and poste riorly with whitei specuhrrn bluish gross- tipped with white; primaries silver white exter nally at tip; back uniform. with bronzed and green reflections; a white crescent in front of WIMP bordered with black; scapula and inner terttals velvet black with violet gloss. In the female the back is more purplish. the sides of head and neck ashy, about the bill white, and lower neck brownish; the eyes are red. It is 19 inches long and 29 in alar extent.. In most parts the plumage is iridiscent with changing metallic reflections.
Formerly the wood duck, one of the most characteristic birds of our fauna, was abundant and widely distributed through the wooded and watered portions of the United States and southern Canada. but as a result of an unholy warfare it has become practically extinct over large areas. It is confined to fresh water, espe
da4 secluded ponds in woods. The flight is noiseless, very rapid, graceful and as easy among the branches of trees as that of the wild pigeon. It breeds from April to June, accord ing to latitude, the nest being made in the hol low of a tree, or in the deserted excavations of the woodpecker or squirrel, and usually in deep swamps, though often in the vicinity of houses, for they are not shy birds. The ma are 6 to 15, 2 by 44 inches, pale buff and greenish, smooth and laid on dried plants and feathers They are much attached to the breeding places.. The young leap down, or are conveyed to the ground or water by their parents. The adults are excellent divers and feed on acorns. nuts. grapes, berries, rice, insects, snails, tadpoles and small fry. The chief enemies of the adults are minks, raccoons and snakes, and many of the young are destroyed by snapping turtles, alliga tors and predaceous fishes. It is easily domes ticated and readily breeds in captivity. The only other species of thegenus is the famous mandarni duck (qv.) of China. Consult Grin nell, 'American Duck Shooting' (New York l9M).