. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . small light colored spots; the rest of the wing feathers are of a beautifulparty-colored brown and white. The upper part of the tail is ash colored;the under part, behind the vent, black. The legs and feet are of a dark leadcolor, and the claws black. The young of both sexes are gray, and this huethey retain till February, when the plumage of the male begins to assumeits variegated tints. He is said to retain his bright colors till the end ofJuly, and then to be
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . small light colored spots; the rest of the wing feathers are of a beautifulparty-colored brown and white. The upper part of the tail is ash colored;the under part, behind the vent, black. The legs and feet are of a dark leadcolor, and the claws black. The young of both sexes are gray, and this huethey retain till February, when the plumage of the male begins to assumeits variegated tints. He is said to retain his bright colors till the end ofJuly, and then to become dark and gray, so as scarcely to be distinguishedfrom the female. Widgeons are common in Cambridgeshire, England, the Isle of Ely, &c,where the male is called the Widgeon, and the female the feed upon wild periwinkles, grass, weeds, &c, which grow at theDottom of rivers and lakes. Their flesh has a fine taste. 670 AVES—DUCK. THE CANVASS-BACK DUCK*. Is a very celebrated species, unknown in Europe. They appear in tne Unit-ed States about the middle of October, and great numbers of them arefound on the rivers near Chesapeake Bay. The canvass-back, in the richjuicy tenderness of its flesh, and its delicacy and flavor, stands unrivalledby the whole of its tribe in, perhaps, any other part of the world. Theysometimes sell from one to three dollars a pair. Its length is about twofeet, and its weigbt two pounds. The most obvious distinction between wild and tame ducks is in the their feet; those of the tame duck being black; those of the wild duckyellow. The difference between wild ducks among each other, arises aswell from their size, as the nature of the place they feed in. Sea ducks,which feed in the salt water, and dive much, have a broad bill, bendingupwards, a large hind toe, and a long blunt tail. Pond ducks, which feedin plashes, have a straight and narrow bill, a small hind toe, and a sharppointed train. The former are
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidnaturalistsl, bookyear1851
