1917] The Ottawa Naturalist. 83 



move north. A small number remain and breed. Males outnumber 

 females in the proportion of 15 to 1 . Courtship commences about the 

 last week in February. This is interesting in view of the fact that 

 they are one of the last ducks to breed. I have found fresh eggs late 

 in June and half grown young in September. 



The following is from my note book: 



February 28, 1916 Large flocks of Redhead close to shore, 

 feeding and courting. Some were mated and copulating. The drake 

 swims swiftly to the duck, and appears to seize her by the neck with 

 his bill. The duck is at once submerged and remains so until the 

 drake leaves her. Five drakes seen to follow a duck and surround 

 her in a circle. They stretch their necks straight up, the front part 

 slightly elevated, showing the black breast, the crown feathers erected. 

 Sometimes they uttered a coarse quack before relaxing. 



February 29, 1916 Large flocks feeding close to the beach. 

 Those nearest to the shore were dipping like mallards. They bring 

 the pondweed to the surface and after shaking it several times, swallow 

 in a series of gulps. The mating call is a coarse quack; the wheezy 

 cat-like cry is made when feeding. I have been unable to discover if 

 it is made by both sexes. 



Canvas-back Marila valisneria. 



Regular winter resident, not common. 

 Scamp Duck Marila marila. 



Abundant winter resident. 

 Lesser Scamp Duck Marila affinis. 



Regular winter resident; not as common as the former. 

 Ring-necked Duck Marila collaris. 



Regular winter resident; unusuallv abundant during the winter 

 of 1915-16. 

 Golden-eye Clangula clangula americana. 



Common winter resident. 

 Barrow's Golden-eye Clangula islandica. 



Scarce winter resident. Breeds commonly here and leaves in 

 October or earlier. The drakes leave soon after the eggs are laid in 

 May. Most of the winter records are for juvenals. 

 Buffle-head Charitonelta albeola. 



Common resident. The drakes disappear soon after the eggs are 

 laid and are not seen again until October. 

 Olor. (Sp.?) 



A small flock of swans winter regularly. 

 Coot Fulica americana. 



Abundant resident. They gather in large flocks in the late fall 

 and are loth to move south, even when their feeding grounds freeze 

 over, in the smaller lakes. During cold winters, hundreds remain on 



