127

SUMMER DUCK.

“THis most beautiful of all our ducks,” says Wilson,
“has probably no superior among its whole tribe for
richness and variety of colours. It is called the wood
duck, from the circumstance of its breeding in hollow °
trees; and the summer duck, from its remaining with
us, (the Americans,) chiefly during the summer.”

The summer duck seldom flies in flocks of more than
three or four individuals together, and most commonly
in pairs, or singly. Their food consists principally of
acorns, the seeds of wild oats, and insects.

This elegant bird has often been tamed, and soon
becomes so familiar as to permit one to stroke its back
with the hand. A Mr. Nicholls had a whole yard
swarming with summer ducks, which he had tamed and
completely domesticated, so that they bred, and were as
familiar as any other tame fowls.

Among other gaudy feathers with which the Indians
ornament the calumet, or pipe of peace, the skin of the
head and neck of the summer duck is frequently seen
covering the stem. :

The eggs, twelve or thirteen in number, are of an
exact oval shape, less than those of the common hen,
the surface exceedingly fine-grained, and of the highest
polish, and slightly tinged with yellow; greatly resem-
bling old polished ivory.

The wood duck is one foot seven inches in length,
and the wings measure two feet four inches in extent.
The bill is red, margined with black; a spot of black
lies between the nostrils, reaching nearly to the tip, which