orthern Europe where the
gathering of the eider down has been made an object of industry. On the
American Continent the pursuit is not followed, either by the native or
white settler.

"Another species common to the higher latitudes of both Continents is
the `king-duck,' so called from its very showy appearance. Its habits
are very similar to the `eider,' and its down is equally soft and
valuable, but it is a smaller bird.

"A still smaller species, also noted for its brilliant plumage, inhabits
the extreme north of both continents. This is the `harlequin-duck;' or,
as the early colonists term it, the `lord.'

"But the `wood-duck' (_Anas sponsa_) is perhaps the most beautiful of
all the American species, or indeed of all ducks whatever--although it
has a rival in the _mandarin duck_ of China, which indeed it very much
resembles both in size and markings. The wood-duck is so called from
the fact of its making its nest in hollow trees, and roosting
occasionally on the branches. It is a freshwater duck, and a Southern
species--never being seen in very high latitudes; nor is it known in
Europe in a wild state, but is peculiar to the Continent of America. It
is one of the easiest species to domesticate, and no zoological garden
is now without it; in all of which its small size--being about that of a
widgeon--its active movements and innocent look, its musical
_peet-peet_, and, above all, its beautiful plumage, make it a general
favourite.

"Besides these, there are many others of the American ducks, whose
description would interest you, but you would grow tired were I to give
a detailed account of them all; so I shall only mention a few that are
distinguished by well-known peculiarities. There is the `whistler'
(_Anas clangula_), which takes its trivial name from the whistling sound
of its wings while in flight; and the `shoveller,' so called from the
form of its bill; and the `conjuring,' or `spirit' ducks of the Indians
(_Anas vulgaris_ and _albeola_), because they dive so quickly and
dexterously, that it is almost impossible to shoot them either with bow
or gun. There is the `old wife,' or `old squaw' (_Anas glacialis_), so
called from its incessant cackle, which the hunters liken to the
scolding of an ill-tempered old wife. This species is the most noisy of
all the duck tribe, and is called by the voyageurs `caccawee,' from its
fancied utterance of these syllables; and the sound, so often heard in
the long