496 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



bers, and were distributed over the region extending from the sea-coast to the remot- 

 est west. Near Cumberland House these birds were found in vast multitudes. At 

 tlieir first arrival on the sea-coast their flesh was good ; but when the bird was moult- 

 ing, it became so rank tliat feAV Europeans could eat it. This peculiarity, however, 

 was confined to those Ducks which bred near the sea-coast. 



This species is not common in Eastern Korth America. Mr. Boardman has seen 

 it in New Brunswick and Eastern Maine, but it is only an occasional and rare visitor 

 to tliat region, and is by no means common in Massachusetts. It is found in small 

 numbers on Cape Cod, and may possibly breed there. I am not aware that it has 

 been seen there in winter. Only a single specimen is reported as having been met 

 with in Bermuda. Dr. Bryant speaks of it as being very common, during the winter, 

 in the Bahamas. 



Dr. Kennerly, in March, 1855, found this Duck abundant along the Conalitos and 

 Janos rivers, occurring generally in flocks, but sometimes singly. It was also 

 common along the Kio San Pedro of Sonora. 



Professor Kumlien finds the IVIallard quite common in Southern Wisconsin, where 

 it breeds in the marshes. The males gather in flocks in Lake Koskonong, while the 

 females take the entire charge of the nest, eggs, and young. In some cases these Ducks 

 remain during mild winters, gathering around open spring-holes. Tliey are much 

 more abundant in the fall than at any other time, when they visit the cornfields of 

 the prairies in large numbers, and commit great depredations on the crops. 



Mr. J. A. Allen found this bird very common in the valley of Great Salt Lake. 

 In California, according to Dr. Cooper, it abounds during the wet season on all the 

 fresh waters of that region, but rarely appearing on those that are salt. It is sup- 

 posed to breed in nearly all parts of that State. It also breeds along the inland lakes 

 and streams up to the very summits of the mountains, and northward up to and be- 

 yond the sixty-eighth parallel. This remarkable power of adaj^tation to life in 

 various climates and conditions seems to fit this species for domestication. Moreover 

 its flesh is not surpassed by that of any other species ; fed with the same food, even 

 the renowned Canvas-back is not its superior. 



Mr. Dall found it to be one of the most abundant winter visitants at Unalashka, 

 where it occurred in large numbers as early as October 12, remaining until the suc- 

 ceeding month of April, when it migrated northward. It was seen near Mazatlan, 

 in Western Mexico, by Colonel Grayson, but was not abundant, and Avas met with 

 only during the winter months. 



According to Mr. Kidgway, this is the most common Duck throughout the in- 

 terior, where it breeds abundantly in all suitable localities, and where it is also a 

 winter resident. Mr. Osbert Salvin found this species common at Zane, in North- 

 eastern Africa. It Avas noticed in the Sahara Region by Mr. Tristram, and was seen 

 by Mr. E. C. Taylor in Egypt. Captain E. G. Shelley states (" Ibis," 1871) that he 

 found it very abundant in Egypt and Nubia, and frequently remaining there to 

 breed. According to Mr. T. L. Powys, the marshes of Epirus and Albania swarm 

 with it throughout the winter ; and Mr. H. Saunders describes it as breeding in the 

 " Marisma," or salt-water lagoons, in Spain. Mr. C. W. Shepard observed it breeding 

 in the north of Iceland, on the shores of Lake My-vatn. It was wild and unsociable, 

 and nested in quiet, swampy places on the shore of the lake, or on the islands not 

 frequented by other species. Mr. Swinhoe adds this Duck to the fauna of Formosa, 

 and also states that he found it near Amoy, in China. Mr. Godwin notes its presence 

 in all the lakes throughout all the islands of the Azores group, and found it breeding 

 among the mountain lakes and marshes in Flores. Middendorft" includes this species 



