![Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR
by Véronique Brossier
Copyright © 2011 Véronique Brossier. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
Published by O’Reilly Media, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472.
O’Reilly books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use. Online editions
are also available for most titles (http://my.safaribooksonline.com). For more information, contact our
corporate/institutional sales department: (800) 998-9938 or corporate@oreilly.com.
Editor: Mary Treseler
Production Editor: Kristen Borg
Copyeditor: Audrey Doyle
Proofreader: Kristen Borg
Indexer: John Bickelhaupt
Cover Designer: Karen Montgomery
Interior Designer: David Futato
Illustrator: Robert Romano
Printing History:
May 2011: First Edition.
Nutshell Handbook, the Nutshell Handbook logo, and the O’Reilly logo are registered trademarks of
O’Reilly Media, Inc. Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR, the image of a Royal Flycatcher,
and related trade dress are trademarks of O’Reilly Media, Inc.
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as
trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and O’Reilly Media, Inc., was aware of a
trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial caps.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume
no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information con-
tained herein.
ISBN: 978-1-449-39482-0
[LSI]
1303389007](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/51879-250506064823-daaaee80/85/Developing-Android-Applications-with-Adobe-AIR-1st-Edition-Veronique-Brossier-9-320.jpg)
Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR 1st Edition Véronique Brossier
- 1. Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR 1st Edition Véronique Brossier download https://ebookultra.com/download/developing-android-applications- with-adobe-air-1st-edition-veronique-brossier/ Explore and download more ebooks or textbooks at ebookultra.com
- 2. We believe these products will be a great fit for you. Click the link to download now, or visit ebookultra.com to discover even more! Developing Android on Android Automate Your Device with Scripts and Tasks 1st Edition Mike Riley https://ebookultra.com/download/developing-android-on-android- automate-your-device-with-scripts-and-tasks-1st-edition-mike-riley/ Developing applications with enterprise SOA 1st Edition Martin Huvar https://ebookultra.com/download/developing-applications-with- enterprise-soa-1st-edition-martin-huvar/ Developing Facebook Platform Applications with Rails 1st Edition Michael J. Mangino https://ebookultra.com/download/developing-facebook-platform- applications-with-rails-1st-edition-michael-j-mangino/ Efficient Android Threading Asynchronous Processing Techniques for Android Applications 1st Edition Anders Goransson https://ebookultra.com/download/efficient-android-threading- asynchronous-processing-techniques-for-android-applications-1st- edition-anders-goransson/
- 3. Modern Electromagnetic Scattering Theory with Applications 1st Edition Andrey V. Osipov https://ebookultra.com/download/modern-electromagnetic-scattering- theory-with-applications-1st-edition-andrey-v-osipov/ POJOs in Action Developing Enterprise Applications with Lightweight Frameworks 1st Edition Chris Richardson https://ebookultra.com/download/pojos-in-action-developing-enterprise- applications-with-lightweight-frameworks-1st-edition-chris-richardson/ Developing Responsive Web Applications with AJAX and jQuery 1st Edition Sandeep Kumar Patel https://ebookultra.com/download/developing-responsive-web- applications-with-ajax-and-jquery-1st-edition-sandeep-kumar-patel/ Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 5 Studio Techniques Designing and Developing for Mobile with jQuery HTML5 and CSS3 1st Edition David Powers https://ebookultra.com/download/adobe-dreamweaver-cs5-5-studio- techniques-designing-and-developing-for-mobile-with-jquery-html5-and- css3-1st-edition-david-powers/ Flask Web Development Developing Web Applications With Python 2nd Edition Miguel Grinberg https://ebookultra.com/download/flask-web-development-developing-web- applications-with-python-2nd-edition-miguel-grinberg/
- 5. Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR 1st Edition Véronique Brossier Digital Instant Download Author(s): Véronique Brossier ISBN(s): 1449394825 Edition: 1 File Details: PDF, 7.50 MB Year: 2011 Language: english
- 8. Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR Véronique Brossier Beijing • Cambridge • Farnham • Köln • Sebastopol • Tokyo
- 9. Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR by Véronique Brossier Copyright © 2011 Véronique Brossier. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Published by O’Reilly Media, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472. O’Reilly books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use. Online editions are also available for most titles (http://my.safaribooksonline.com). For more information, contact our corporate/institutional sales department: (800) 998-9938 or [email protected]. Editor: Mary Treseler Production Editor: Kristen Borg Copyeditor: Audrey Doyle Proofreader: Kristen Borg Indexer: John Bickelhaupt Cover Designer: Karen Montgomery Interior Designer: David Futato Illustrator: Robert Romano Printing History: May 2011: First Edition. Nutshell Handbook, the Nutshell Handbook logo, and the O’Reilly logo are registered trademarks of O’Reilly Media, Inc. Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR, the image of a Royal Flycatcher, and related trade dress are trademarks of O’Reilly Media, Inc. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and O’Reilly Media, Inc., was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial caps. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information con- tained herein. ISBN: 978-1-449-39482-0 [LSI] 1303389007
- 10. A mon père. A ma mère.
- 12. Adobe Developer Library, a copublishing partnership between O’Reilly Media Inc., and Adobe Systems, Inc., is the authoritative resource for developers using Adobe technologies. These comprehensive resources offer learning solutions to help devel- opers create cutting-edge interactive web applications that can reach virtually any- one on any platform. With top-quality books and innovative online resources covering the latest tools for rich-Internet application development, the Adobe Developer Library delivers expert training straight from the source. Topics include ActionScript, Adobe Flex®, Adobe Flash®, and Adobe Acrobat®. Get the latest news about books, online resources, and more at http://adobedeveloper library.com. Untitled-1 1 3/3/09 5:37:20 PM
- 14. Table of Contents Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix 1. AIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Installing the Adobe Development Tools 2 Flash Professional CS5.5 2 Flash Builder 4.5 2 Installing the AIR Runtime on an Android Device 2 What Is in the AIR SDK 3 New ActionScript Libraries 4 Functionalities Not Yet Supported 5 AIR on the Desktop Versus AIR on Android 5 Mobile Flash Player 10.1 Versus AIR 2.6 on Android 6 2. Call Me, Text Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Setting Up Your Device 8 Creating a Project 8 Using Flash Professional 8 Using Flash Builder 9 Creating the Application Descriptor 9 Using Flash Professional 9 Using Flash Builder 9 Writing the Code 10 Using Flash Professional 11 Using Flash Builder 12 Packaging Your Application As an APK File and Installing It on the Device 12 Using Flash Professional 12 Using Flash Builder 13 Testing and Debugging 13 vii
- 15. Using Flash Professional 13 Using Flash Builder 14 Mobile Utility Applications 15 Launchpad 15 Device Central CS5 15 Package Assistant Pro 15 De MonsterDebugger 16 Installing AIR on an Android Device via a Server 16 Other Tools 16 Conclusion 18 3. Android . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Android Software Development Kit 20 Installing the Android SDK 20 Installing the Android Debug Bridge 21 Detecting Your Device 22 Using the Dalvik Debug Monitor 22 Using the logcat Command 23 Using the Virtual Device Manager and Emulator 24 How Does AIR Run on Android? 25 Starting AIR with intent 25 AIR Access to Android APIs 26 Using the Command-Line Tool 27 A Basic Review 27 Conclusion 28 4. Permissions, Certificates, and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Why Mobile? 29 The APK File 30 Creating the Application Icon 30 Choosing the Application Settings 31 Setting Permissions 33 Packaging External Resources 36 Signing Your Application with a Certificate 36 Versioning 37 Registering As an Android Developer 38 Publishing an Application on the Android Market 38 Uploading Assets 38 Listing Details 38 Publishing Options 39 Distributing Applications via Adobe InMarket 39 Publishing for the Amazon Market 40 Controlling Distribution by Using the MAC Address 40 viii | Table of Contents
- 16. Launching an AIR Application 41 Monetizing Your Application 41 Paid Applications 41 Mobile Ads 41 Reporting 42 Conclusion 43 5. Evaluating Device Capabilities and Handling Multiple Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Hardware 45 The Processor 46 Memory and Storage 46 The Camera 46 Sensors 46 The Battery 46 The Display 47 Software 47 Performance 48 Capabilities 48 Orientation 49 Creating Content for Multiple Screens 50 Asset Scaling and Positioning 51 Vector Graphics or Bitmaps? 54 Developing a Deployment Strategy 54 Considering Connectivity 55 Conclusion 55 6. Opening and Closing an Application and Saving Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 The AIR Application 58 Opening the Application 58 Closing the Application 58 Moving Between the Background and Foreground 59 Setting Back, Menu, and Search Buttons 61 Overriding a Dimmed Screen 61 Why and How to Save Data 62 Internal or External Storage? 63 Local SharedObject 65 The Filesystem 66 Using the SQLite Database 70 Embedding a Database 76 Using Encrypted Local Storage 77 Conclusion 77 Table of Contents | ix
- 17. 7. Multitouch Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 A Brief History 79 What Is Multitouch and Gesture? 80 How Does It Work? 80 The Multitouch Class 81 The GestureEvent Class 82 The Zoom Gesture 82 The Rotate Gesture 83 The Pan Gesture 85 The Swipe Gesture 86 The Press and Tap Gesture 87 The Two-Finger Tap Gesture 88 The TouchEvent Class 88 The GestureWorks Library 91 Designing for Touch 91 Conclusion 92 8. Accelerometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 What Is a Motion Sensor? 93 The Accelerometer Class 93 Visualizing the Values 95 A Simple Animation 95 Updates and Screen Rendering 96 Setting Boundaries 97 Rotating Toward the Center 98 Shake Me 99 Smoothing Out Values 100 Conclusion 102 9. Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 The Gallery Application and the CameraRoll Class 103 Selecting an Image 104 Adding an Image 109 The Camera Application and the CameraUI Class 109 Uploading to a Remote Server 111 EXIF Data 111 Conclusion 114 10. Geolocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Geolocation Classes 115 The GeolocationEvent Class 117 Locating a Device Using Global Positioning System and Network/WiFi Technology 118 x | Table of Contents
- 18. Using GPS 119 Using the Cellular Network and WiFi 119 How to Know if GPS or WiFi Is Active 120 AIR and Android 121 Reverse Geocoding 122 Maps 124 Launching Google Maps 124 Static Maps 125 Dynamic Maps 129 EXIF Data and the Map Object 132 The speed Property 134 Conclusion 134 11. Microphone and Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 The Microphone 137 Recording Audio 138 Playing Back Audio 139 Saving a Recording 140 Audio Assets 144 Embedding Files 144 Using External Files 144 Settings and the Audio Codec 145 Working with Sounds 147 Loading Sounds 147 Playing Sounds 149 Displaying Progress 149 Stopping Sounds 150 Resuming Sounds 151 Accessing Metadata 151 Audio Example Using Multitouch 152 ID3 Tags 152 Modifying Sound 152 Controlling Volume 152 Panning 154 Raw Data and the Sound Spectrum 154 Audio and Application Activity 158 Conclusion 158 12. Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Preparing Video 161 Codecs 161 Bit Rate 163 Frame Rate 163 Table of Contents | xi
- 19. Resolution 163 Performance 164 Playing Video 164 Embedded Video 165 External Video 165 Progressive Video 165 RTMP Streaming 169 HTTP Dynamic Streaming 171 Peer-to-Peer Communication 171 Controls 171 YouTube 172 Capturing Video 172 Video and the CameraUI Class 172 The Camera Class 175 Documentation and Tutorials 176 Conclusion 176 13. StageWebView . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 The Native Browser 177 The StageWebView Class 178 Design Considerations 180 Local Use 181 Mobile Ads 182 Services and Authentication 184 Limitations 185 Conclusion 185 14. Hardware Acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Some Definitions 187 Rendering, or How Things Are Drawn to the Screen 188 Computation 189 Edge and Color Creation 189 Rasterization 189 Presentation 190 GPU Rendering on Android 190 The cacheAsBitmap Property 190 The cacheAsBitmapMatrix Property 193 The Display List 195 Memory Consumption 195 Tree Structure 196 Node Relationship 196 MovieClip with Multiple Frames 198 Interactivity 198 xii | Table of Contents
- 20. Multiple Rendering Techniques 199 Maximum Texture Memory and Texture Size 199 2.5D Objects 199 How to Test the Efficiency of GPU Rendering 200 Matrices 200 Identity Matrix 200 Transformation Matrix 201 Matrices for Multiscreen Deployment 202 Matrices Not to Be Used in GPU Mode 202 Hardware-Accelerated Audio and Video 203 Conclusion 203 15. Your Device and Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 RTMFP UDP 205 P2P Over a Local Network 206 Color Exchange 208 Companion AIR Application 210 P2P Over a Remote Network 210 Simple Text Chat 212 Multicast Streaming 213 End-to-End Stream 215 Directed Routing 217 Relay 218 Treasure Hunt 219 Other Multiuser Services 219 Arduino and Physical Computing 220 Conclusion 220 16. ViewManager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Navigation 221 ViewManager 221 Individual Views 225 Breadcrumb Navigation 232 Flash Builder ViewNavigator 234 Conclusion 237 17. Case Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 The Album Application 239 Design 240 Architecture 240 Flow 240 Permissions 243 Navigation 244 Table of Contents | xiii
- 21. Random documents with unrelated content Scribd suggests to you:
- 22. THE BERNACLE GOOSE Bernicla leucopsis (Bechstein) Nesting abundantly in Greenland and in some numbers on Spitzbergen, the Bernacle Goose is by no means uncommon in winter along the west coast of the United Kingdom as far south as Lancaster, as well as on the north coast of Ireland. Elsewhere in these islands it is decidedly rare. It feeds on grass pastures near the sea, almost invariably by night. This species is commonly kept in captivity, where it breeds freely. The crown of the head, neck, and upper breast are black; mantle grey, barred with black and white; forehead, cheeks, and chin white. Under parts greyish. Tail coverts pure white. Length 27 in.; wing 16 in.
- 23. 236 THE BRENT GOOSE Bernicla brenta (Pallas) This species is one of the most abundant of our Geese, and is found in enormous flocks round our coasts throughout the whole winter. It breeds along the west coast of Greenland and also on the islands and northern coasts of Russia and Siberia. It feeds chiefly by day, and is fond of wading about in mud-flats or in shallow water feeding on aquatic vegetation. The whole plumage is chiefly black, except the tail coverts, which are white, and a white patch on each side of the neck. Length 22 in.; wing 13 in.
- 24. 237 THE WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus musicus, Bechstein Formerly breeding in small numbers in the Orkneys, this species now only visits us during the winter, its numbers depending largely on the severity of the climate in Northern Europe. It frequents bays, estuaries, and inland lakes, feeding on weeds and aquatic vegetation. The note is a loud “whoop, whoop, whoop,” from which its trivial name has been derived, and is often uttered as they fly along the shore in a long straggling line. The sexes are alike in plumage, as are all palæarctic Swans, and this species may be distinguished by the colour of the bill, which is black at the tip and yellow at the base, the yellow extending forward beyond the openings of the black nostrils. The base of the bill is flat and quadrangular and not knobbed as in the Mute Swan. Length 60 in.; wing 25·5 in.
- 25. BEWICK’S SWAN Cygnus bewicki, Yarrell This species, which is smaller than the Whooper, visits us regularly every winter, and is in some places the commoner of the wild Swans. In Scotland it is abundant in some seasons as it is also in Ireland, but on the coasts of England and Wales it is always rather scarce. It breeds in the Far North to the east of the White Sea. It may be distinguished from the Whooper by its smaller size and the extent of the yellow on the beak, which does not quite reach the nostrils. Length about 46 in.; wing about 21 in.
- 26. 238 THE MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmelin) In this country the Mute Swan is only met with in a state of semi- domestication, having been introduced at some early period of history. It is now, however, widely distributed throughout our islands. Inhabiting lakes, rivers, and ornamental waters, it feeds on aquatic weeds and grain, and is extremely useful in preventing an undue growth of weeds in ornamental ponds and lakes. The nest is a huge structure of straw and rushes, built upon the edge of the water, or in the centre of a reed-bed. The eggs, which vary in number from five to nine or ten, are of a uniform pale green, and are hatched after some five weeks’ incubation. The young, which are covered at first with greyish down, are carefully tended by both parents, and when tired nestle on their parents’ back. In olden times the right to keep Swans on the Thames was granted by the King to many of the City Companies, and in the autumn of each year (a custom which is still continued) the young Swans are caught up and marked on the bill with the private mark of the Company to whom they belong. This is known as “Swan upping.” The male is known as the “Cob” and the female as the “Pen,” and the rules and regulations clearly state how the brood shall be awarded in the event of the Cob and Pen belonging to different Companies, while the landowner on whose ground they nest also comes in for a share. At the nest the male Swan is very savage, attacking any intruder with his bill and with savage beats of his powerful wings; his mate, however, is very quiet and will allow herself to be pushed off the nest with no stronger protestation than a subdued “hiss.”
- 27. 239 This Swan is not mute as its name implies, but has a loud trumpet- like note, to which, however, it seldom gives utterance. In a purely wild state, this species may be found breeding in Denmark and the south of Sweden, and it is a common breeding species in South-eastern Europe. From its northern breeding haunts it migrates in winter, many probably coming over to our shores. The plumage is pure white; the bill reddish orange with a black knob at its base. This knob is much larger than in the male. The young are greyish drab. The so-called “Polish Swan” is a variety of this species, in which the young are white. Length about 56 in.; wing 27 in.
- 28. 240 THE COMMON SHELD-DUCK Tadorna cornata (S. G. Gmelin) Although somewhat local in its breeding haunts, this species is fairly abundant round all our coasts in winter. It is a Sea-Duck, being seldom found far inland, and its food consists of small mollusca and marine insects, which it seeks on our flat estuaries and along the shore. A rabbit-burrow in sand-dunes near the sea is chosen for a nesting- site, and lined with a little grass, to which is subsequently added an abundance of grey down from the body of the female. Occasionally it makes its own burrow, or other sites such as crevices between boulders or under furze bushes are selected. The eggs, generally ten in number, are creamy white. As soon as they are hatched the mother leads her brood to the shore, where they feed, making for the sea on the first sign of danger. During the pairing season this bird is very noisy, the male uttering a short whistle, while both sexes run round each other with out- stretched neck, making a curious guttural chuckle. In winter large flocks of these birds visit us from the Continent. These flocks may be seen resting out at sea by day and come in to feed on the soft ooze by night; they are of course more partial to flat and sandy parts of the coast, but may nevertheless often be found in small sandy bays on an otherwise rocky shore. The head and neck are glossy bluish black; the scapulars and primaries black. There is a broad band of bright chestnut across the back and breast, and a black stripe along the centre of the under
- 29. parts. Speculum green. The rest of the plumage is pure white. Legs flesh pink; bill crimson. The sexes are alike, but the female is smaller and duller. The male has a crimson knob at the base of his bill which swells up considerably during the breeding season. The young bird lacks the chestnut band, the head and neck are dull brownish black, the scapulars greyish brown, and in its first autumn it assumes a plumage similar to the adult female, but duller. Length 25 in.; wing 13 in. Both sexes assume in July a much duller plumage, somewhat resembling that of the young in their first winter.
- 30. THE RUDDY SHELD-DUCK Tadorna casarca (Linnæus) The Ruddy Sheld-Duck is a South-eastern European species, breeding on the shores of the Levant and throughout Northern Africa, but it is rare on the north shores of the Mediterranean west of the Adriatic. It has several times been noted as a straggler to England, and in 1892 many flocks appeared in different parts of the country.
- 31. 241 SHELD-DUCK Tadorna cornuta The general colour is a deep orange brown, the head being rather lighter. The male has a narrow black collar during the nesting season. The female is much paler on the head, the forehead, lores, and a ring round the eye being nearly white. Length 25 in.; wing 14·5 in.
- 32. 242 THE MALLARD OR WILD DUCK Anas boschas, Linnæus This is at once our commonest and most beautiful Duck. Owing to drainage of fen-lands and higher cultivation it is, perhaps, not so abundant as formerly, yet there are few marshes or low-lying lands of any extent in our islands, which do not afford a home to a few pairs of this species. It feeds chiefly by night on worms, aquatic insects, water weeds, and grain, and prefers ditches overgrown with weeds or shallow ponds to open stretches of deep water. Early in March it chooses a nesting site, usually on the ground and at no great distance from water, but exceptionally it has been known to nest in trees, faggots, stacks, and other elevated places. No nest is formed, but a cup-shaped hollow is scraped out, which is warmly lined with down after incubation commences. The eggs, usually ten to twelve in number, are pale greenish yellow, and are always carefully covered up by the Duck on leaving the nest. They hatch after twenty-seven days’ incubation, and the young are then taken to the nearest water, on or near which they remain for about two months till they can fly. If, however, they are much disturbed they will be led away by their mother to a neighbouring piece of water, often at some considerable distance. In a wild state the Mallard, as the male of this species is called, is strictly monogamous, and during the whole of incubation he will remain in the vicinity of the nest, warning his mate of the approach of danger, and accompanying her when she comes off to feed. Once the young are hatched he retires to some secluded and sheltered piece of water, where he assumes a dull plumage, somewhat resembling that of the female. During this period he becomes very
- 33. skulking, rarely showing himself on the open water. When his dull or “eclipse” plumage has been assumed, he casts all his flight feathers at once, and for a short time becomes incapable of flight. These grow again in about a fortnight, and then in September he begins to assume his brilliant colours once more, and comes from his secluded retreat to join his comrades. In the winter they gather in large flocks, which resort to open sheets of water or the sea, flighting every evening to the marshes and shore to feed, and retiring again at daybreak to rest on the water. MALLARD OR WILD DUCK Anas boschas
- 34. 243 244 It is these daily movements of Duck that are known to sportsmen as “flights,” and they afford excellent shooting to the gunner concealed on their route. Vast numbers of this and other species of Duck used formerly to be taken in decoys, but partly owing to decrease in the numbers of the fowl, or still more to the increase of shooters, who frighten them away, few if any decoys are now worked at a profit in this country. A decoy is a pond in a suitable locality near the sea surrounded by trees and having two or four curved arms known as “pipes” running up at the different corners. These pipes are covered with netting, and end in a small bag net. The Duck are enticed up by tame birds and by means of a red dog that they follow out of curiosity. When some way up the pipe they see behind them the decoyman, who has hitherto been concealed by an ingenious arrangement of reed-screens, and rather than turn back and face him, they rise and fly up the pipe into the net. The whole operation must be carried out in silence so as not to scare the other birds on the pond, who remain in complete ignorance of their comrades’ fate. Absolute quiet and plenty of food are the essentials for the successful working of a decoy. They are still used in Holland, where they form a considerable source of profit to their owners; their number is limited, and a licence has to be paid for each decoy. After the brood can fly the Duck loses her primaries and becomes incapable of flight for a short time, but as soon as her quills are grown the whole family move off to join the flocks, which are now rapidly forming. Large numbers visit us yearly from abroad, and a spell of severe weather in midwinter still further increases their numbers. The male has a glossy green head and neck, the latter being encircled by a narrow white ring; rump and tail coverts glossy greenish black, the four central coverts upturned; chest and breast deep chestnut; rest of under parts pale grey, vermiculated with black; bill greenish yellow; legs orange. The Duck is dark brown, the feathers having paler edgings. The young resemble the female, but the males have assumed their full dress by October. The male
- 35. in eclipse has a plumage which approximates to that of the female. Length 23 in.; wing 11 in.
- 36. 245 THE GADWALL Anas strepera, Linnæus The Gadwall is a scarce visitor to our shores, occurring irregularly along the east coasts of Scotland and England, but it is very rarely seen in the west or in Ireland. In a few places in Norfolk, where it was originally introduced, it breeds, and has of late years considerably increased both there and in the surrounding counties. In habits it resembles the Mallard. The eggs are usually ten in number and of a delicate creamy pink. It may be easily recognised on the wing by its white speculum. On the Continent it nests in Central and Eastern Europe, its breeding range extending to the far north of Russia. It winters in the Mediterranean basin. The adult male is greyish brown, with darker mottlings on the head and neck; back dark brown, with greyish markings; median wing coverts chestnut; greater coverts almost black. Under parts white, grey on the flanks and vent. Under tail coverts black. The female is marked with dark brown and buff much like a Wild Duck, but is recognisable by the white speculum. The young somewhat resemble the female. The white speculum forms a distinctive mark of this species at all ages. Length 20 in.; wing 10·5 in.
- 37. 246 THE SHOVELLER Spatula clypeata (Linnæus) This bird is by no means rare with us in winter, when large numbers come over from abroad. It is essentially an inland species, preferring small and sheltered pieces of water rather than wide open stretches. Its most characteristic feature is the large flattened bill with which it feeds on the surface-swimming animalculæ and other insects, the broad lamellæ of the mandibles forming an efficient strainer. When feeding three or four will often follow each other in a circle, each feeding in the other’s wake. Of late years it has become more numerous as a breeding bird, and it now nests commonly in the Broads and other districts of Norfolk and the eastern counties. In Kent and the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North, it nests sparingly, as well as in some of the southern and eastern counties of Scotland. In Ireland it is a local but by no means scarce species. Except in the breeding season it is a very silent bird; when courting it moves its head up and down, uttering a low “took, took,” which is answered by the female. The nest is generally placed at some distance from the water in the middle of a dry grass-field, where there is hardly any cover beyond a small patch of grass more luxuriant than the rest. The eggs, which number from eight to ten, are pale greenish buff in colour. The female sits very closely, and the male remains in attendance at no great distance and accompanies her when she comes off to feed. The incubation period of this species is rather shorter than with most Ducks, and lasts between twenty-one and twenty-three days. The young are solely looked after by the Duck, and when first hatched their bills show no trace of the broadening and flattening, characteristic of the adult.
- 38. During the summer the Drake assumes an “eclipse” plumage, which somewhat resembles that of the Duck. In October he begins, unlike most other species, to assume an “intermediate” plumage, in which the head is very dark but not metallic, and the white of the breast is obscured by dark transverse bars. The full plumage is not usually complete till the end of February or early in March. In this country our breeding birds are practically resident, only shifting from their nesting-quarters when frozen out. The majority of birds met with, however, in winter are immigrants from the Continent, who leave us again in March. The adult Drake in full plumage is a beautiful bird. The head and upper neck are metallic green; lower neck, breast, and scapulars white; back brown; shoulders pale blue; greater wing coverts white. The under parts are deep chestnut; speculum green; bill black; legs orange. The Duck is dark brown, with light rufous buff edgings to the feathers. Shoulders bluish. The young at first resemble the Duck, and in November begin to assume the “intermediate” plumage described above, except that the breast feathers are spotted and not barred. It does not always assume its full plumage in the first year.
- 40. 248 THE PINTAIL Dafila acuta (Linnæus) This species visits us in large numbers during the winter, arriving in September and not leaving our shores till April. During this period it is essentially a Sea-Duck, haunting shallow shores and estuaries, where it feeds on aquatic vegetation, crustacea, and other animal life brought in by each tide. It is commoner on the east coast than elsewhere owing to the large tracts of shore suited to its habits, but it may be found in smaller numbers on the west and in Ireland, wherever suitable localities exist. It is only of late years that it has been known to nest in this country, a small colony having established themselves on one of the Scotch lochs. Elsewhere it breeds abundantly throughout Northern Europe, migrating southwards in winter. The nest is placed in a dry situation, at some little distance from the water. The eggs are rather elongated in shape and pale buffish green in colour. The adult male has a brown head, greenish black on the nape. A white stripe runs down the neck on either side, merging into the white of the under parts. Back and flanks dark brown, mottled with grey. Wing coverts buff; speculum bronze green; tail black, the two central feathers much elongated; under tail coverts black; bill and legs slate grey. The female is of varying shades of buff and brown. The elongated neck and general shape of this species is sufficient to distinguish it from others of its family. The young resemble the female, and moult directly into their full plumage in their first autumn. The eclipse plumage of the Drake, which is dark brown above and smoky grey below, is lost about October. Length 26 in.; wing 11 in.
- 41. 249 THE TEAL Nettion crecca (Linnæus) This is the smallest of our native species of Duck, and is fairly common throughout our islands at all times of the year, but its numbers are largely augmented in winter by the arrival of vast flocks from abroad. It may be found in winter near the mouths of rivers and shallow estuaries as well as inland; its food consists of grain, insects, worms, slugs, and molluscs. It breeds throughout our islands, but more abundantly in the north. The nest is generally placed at some distance from water on a dry moorland or rough grass-field, and this species makes a rough nest of leaves and grass, lined with down. The eggs, eight to ten in number, are creamy white. The male has the crown, nape, cheeks, and throat chestnut; an elongated patch of purplish green behind the eye, the rest of the upper parts vermiculated with black and white except the rump and tail coverts, which are black. Under parts white, the lower part of the neck and breast being spotted and sometimes of a yellowish tinge; flanks vermiculated with black. Speculum green and purplish black. Bill black, legs brownish grey. The female is mottled with brown and buff. The young resemble the female. The male in his eclipse dress, which is worn till late in October or November, resembles the female very closely, more so in fact than is the case with any other species. Length 14·5; wing 7·25 in.
- 42. THE AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL Nettion carolinense (J. F. Gmelin) This species has only occurred three or four times in these islands. The male differs from the Common Teal in having some greyish vermiculated feathers on either side of the breast, and the buffish white lines on the face are very slightly defined. The female cannot be distinguished from our native species. Length 16 in.; wing 7·25 in.
- 43. 250 THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL Querquedula discors (Linnæus) This American species has been taken at least once in the United Kingdom. The male has the throat, forehead, and crown dark lead colour, and a long crescentic patch of white in front of the eye. Cheeks and neck dull lavender grey. Length 16 in.; wing 7·25 in.
- 44. 251 THE GARGANEY Querquedula circia (Linnæus) This is one of our scarcest species, coming to us as a summer immigrant from April to September, and remaining in a few suitable spots to breed. It is commonest in Norfolk, and may also be found in Hants, Kent, Suffolk, and Yorkshire. Elsewhere its occurrences are rare and only consist of stragglers on migration. It breeds regularly on the Continent from Sweden southwards, becoming commoner in the east. The nest is usually placed in a dry and often open situation, where there is but little cover. The eggs resemble those of the Teal, but are rather greener in tint. The crown and nape of the male are dark brown, with a conspicuous white stripe passing backwards over the eye. Cheeks and neck brown ticked with white. Back dark brown; wing coverts bluish grey. Chin black; breast pale brown, with dark crescentic bars; remainder of under parts white. Vermiculated on the flanks. Speculum green; bill black; legs greenish. Female somewhat similar to Duck of the common Teal, but may be distinguished by the presence of a light stripe over the eye. The feathers of the back are dark with light margins, not barred as in the Teal, while the feathers of the breast are also entirely dark with white margins. Length 16 in.; wing 7·8 in.
- 45. 252 THE WIGEON Mareca penelope (Linnæus) The Wigeon is one of our commonest winter visitors, arriving in large numbers from early in September onwards, and frequenting estuaries, bays, and tidal waters, but rarely wandering far inland. Although feeding also on marine insects and crustacea, it is chiefly a vegetable eater, living almost entirely upon Zostera marina. In Scotland a good many pairs remain to breed, and during the summer it frequents high moorlands and inland waters. The nest is placed in a tuft of rushes or among heather, and the eggs, usually ten in number, are of a delicate creamy white. The note is a melodious whistle, which may be expressed as “whee you.” The male has the head and neck chestnut, with a broad buff stripe extending backwards over the crown; back grey uniformly vermiculated; throat and upper neck chestnut; breast white, vermiculated on the flanks; shoulders white; speculum green. In the eclipse plumage the head is dark chestnut, grizzled with brown; back brown, with chestnut edgings to the feathers; flanks chestnut; under parts white. The female is dark brownish grey above, lighter on the wing coverts, and white underneath. Length 18·5 in.; wing 10·5 in.
- 46. THE AMERICAN WIGEON Mareca americana (J. F. Gmelin) One or two examples of this species have occurred in this country at long intervals. It may be distinguished from our Wigeon by the forehead and crown being dull white, the cheeks and neck whitish, speckled with brown, and a green stripe passing backwards from the eye. The female has the head and neck yellowish white, speckled with black. Length 19 in.; wing 10·25 in.
- 47. Welcome to our website – the ideal destination for book lovers and knowledge seekers. With a mission to inspire endlessly, we offer a vast collection of books, ranging from classic literary works to specialized publications, self-development books, and children's literature. Each book is a new journey of discovery, expanding knowledge and enriching the soul of the reade Our website is not just a platform for buying books, but a bridge connecting readers to the timeless values of culture and wisdom. With an elegant, user-friendly interface and an intelligent search system, we are committed to providing a quick and convenient shopping experience. Additionally, our special promotions and home delivery services ensure that you save time and fully enjoy the joy of reading. Let us accompany you on the journey of exploring knowledge and personal growth! ebookultra.com