. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. of unwounded specimens to carry out the ex- periments necessary to determine the precise conditions under which this species will breed in capti^â ity. No one ever sees more than two or three living Canvas-Backs together in an aviary, and thus far I believe none have bred. It is unnecessary to describe this species, for it is probable that no one of the readers hereof ever will see one wild and unlabelled. Its range was once the same as that of the red
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. THE CANVAS-BACK DUCK. of unwounded specimens to carry out the ex- periments necessary to determine the precise conditions under which this species will breed in capti^â ity. No one ever sees more than two or three living Canvas-Backs together in an aviary, and thus far I believe none have bred. It is unnecessary to describe this species, for it is probable that no one of the readers hereof ever will see one wild and unlabelled. Its range was once the same as that of the redhead, and its habits also were quite similar. The Buffle-Head Duck, or Butter-Ball,' is a small, tree-nesting duck, so pretty and so very odd-looking that when seen every one wishes to know its name; and when named, it is not soon forgotten. When you see a short-bodied, plump-looking little duck, black above and white below, with a head that is a great round mass of soft feathers, half snow-white, and half a rich metallic mixture of purple, violet and green, âthat is a Butter-Ball, and nothing else. Wherever seen, it commands instant attention. Unfortunately, this jjicturescjue little creature does not like our country as a summer resi- dence, for it breeds from Maine, Iowa and Brit- ish Columbia, northward, and returns to us only when snapjjing cold weather heralds the approach of winter. On the water it is the most nervous and watchful duck that I know, and its habit of constantly turning from side 1 Char-i-ton-et'ta al-be-o'la. Average length, inches. to side is certainly in the interest of self-preserva- tion. But after all, what is the alertness of any duck against the deadly, cold calculation of the greedy "market-shooter" with a choke- bore gun? The Buffle-Head is one of the ducks that is rarely seen in captivity. A specimen that is so seriously wounded that it can be caught, usually dies a few days later. So far as I know, it has not yet been induced t
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