ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — DAFILA. 515 



the Yukon the first specimens were seen in the latter part of April ; and before the 

 10th of May they had arrived in immense flocks, which remained some time together 

 in that vicinity before passing farther north or se^iarating to breed. At this time 

 the birds were fat, and their tlesh delicious, much superior to that of any other 

 Duck, except the Widgeon. At the Yukon the Pin-tails are the latest in nesting of 

 any of the fresh-water Ducks, and generally hatch a week or two after the Mallard. 

 He found them breeding in the same grounds, and at about the same time, with 

 Fulix affinis, though they do not associate with that species. He always found their 

 nest in low but dry ground, under the shelter of trees or bushes, though never among 

 thick large trees, and not more than two or three rods from water. They never build 

 on hummocks in the water, nor on high land, but always just upon the edge of a 

 marsh or lake. 



The nest is usually placed at the foot of a willow, among grass, rather than leaves 

 or moss, and is extremely simple, being composed of merely a few bits of broken dry 

 grass and sticks, but Avell lined with down. 



In observing the breeding-habits of these Ducks, Mr. Kennicott was struck with 

 the remarkable persistence in the individuals of each species in always choosing pre- 

 cisely similar localities for their nests, so far as was possible ; and he was therefore 

 somewhat particular in describing minutely the peculiar nesting-place chosen by 

 each. 



The eggs are from seven to nine in number, and rather small in size. At the 

 Yukon the young are mostly hatched in the early part of July. The old males moult 

 before this time, and the females somewhat later. During the summer and fall, as 

 in the spring, the flesh of this species is superior to that of any other Duck in that 

 region. It leaves the Yukon and the Mackenzie River Region a little later than the 

 other fresh-water Ducks, except the Widgeon. It does not collect in such large flocks 

 in autumn as on its arrival in the spring. 



Mr. Kennicott found l)ut few Pin-tails feeding on the wild rice in Northern Minne- 

 sota, where Mallards, Widgeons, and Green-winged Teals were plentiful. He saw the 

 young of this Duck in considerable numbers as early as June 14. 



Mr. MacFarlane found it breeding in large numbers in the neighborhood of Fort 

 Anderson, and furnishes notes in regard to many nests with their eggs, identified by 

 him. The nests were invariably upon the ground, usually near the water, rarely 

 more than thirty or forty yards therefrom. The nest was usually a mere depression 

 in the ground, lined with down, with a few decayed feathers under the eggs. The 

 female sits very closely. In one case he approached Avithin four feet before she flew 

 off. The eggs were usually from six to eight in number ; and the male bird was 

 frequently found in the vicinity of the nest. Mr. MacFarlane states that the Pin-tail 

 is an abundant Duck in that quarter, and among the first to arrive in spring. It 

 deserts its nest almost immediately after the yoimg are hatched, and takes to the 

 Avater with them. From personal observations he was convinced that this species, 

 as well as the Harelda glacialis, invariably selects land-locked sheets of water for the 

 purpose of rearing its young ; while other species give the preference to small streams 

 of running water. 



Mr. L. Kumlien informs me that this is one of the first of the Ducks to arrive in 

 the spring in Southern Wisconsin, and is then quite common. Some remain all 

 summer ; but he has never found them breeding, nor seen any very young birds — as 

 would in all probability be the case if any bred in that neighborhood. 



The points in the Arctic Regions from which this Duck was reported to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, are Fort Resolution and the Yukon, by Mr. Kennicott ; moutli of 



