ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — HISTRIONICUS. 51 



by regularly repeated beats of the wings ; and it is surprisingly rapid — equalling in 

 rapidity that of the Hooded Merganser. Its note is a mere croak, resembling that 

 of the Golden-eye, but feebler. Its food is varied, according to the situation. On 

 the sea-coast and on the estuaries it obtains, by diving, small fry, shrimps, bivalve- 

 shells, and mollusks ; in fresh water, small crayfish, leeches, snails, grasses, and other 

 water-plants. 



Professor Kumlien informs me that this species is abundant in Southern Wiscon- 

 sin both in the fall and in the spring, but that none remain there during the summer. 

 Eggs taken in Iowa, and purporting to be of this species, have been widely distrib- 

 uted ; but this is a more southern locality, and they are, therefore, not so likely 

 to be authentic as those from farther north ; and all that I have seen of these are 

 the eggs of Q. discors, bearing but slight resemblance in shade or size to those of 

 B. albeola. Mr. B. F. Goss, of PcAvaukee, Wis., informs me that the yonng of this 

 species, still unable to fly, have been killed in Pewaukee Lake — this being the only 

 instance of its being there in the breeding-season which has come to his knowledge. 



The BuflEle-head Avas found breeding at Fort Eesolution by Mr. Kennicott, May 19 ; 

 the nest was in a hollow tree. The following year, May 8, 1861, Mr. Kennicott also 

 found it breeding on the Yukon River, in which locality its nests were obtained by 

 Mr. Lockhart, who also procured them on Porcupine River. This species was found 

 breeding at Fort Simpson by Mr. B. R. Ross ; at Fort Rae by the younger Mr. Clarke ; 

 and at Fort Yukon by j\Ir. Lockhart. 



Dr. Berlandier, in his manuscript notes, speaks of this species as occurring in 

 winter on the borders of the rivers and marshes in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. 

 In the spring it retires to the north, and reappears at the beginning of winter. 



In March, 1855 — as Dr. Kennerly, in his Notes on the Birds observed on the 

 Mexican Boundary Survey, mentions — this Duck was found in abundance at the 

 Boca Grande, in Chihuahua, in flocks ; and also at other points on the Conalitos and 

 Janos rivers. 



Eggs of this species from the Yukon River (Smithsonian Institution, No. 9550) 

 are of a grayish ivory-white color, with a quite distinct tinge of green. They vary 

 considerably in size ; and in some specimens this greenish tinge is much deeper than 

 in others. The smaller-sized eggs of this species, with only very faint tintings of 

 green, approach in appearance the eggs of the Blue-winged Teal ; and in collecting, 

 the latter egg has been substituted for the rarer one of the Buffle-head. The follow- 

 ing are the measurements of four specimens : 2.00 by 1.45 inches ; 2.05 by 1.50 ; 1.95 

 by 1.35 ; 1.95 by 1.45. 



Genus HISTRIONICUS, Lesson. 



Histrionicius, Less. Man. II. 1828, 415 (tj-pe, Anas histrionica, Linn.). 

 Cosmonessa, Kaup, Entw. Europ. Thiervv. 1829, 46 (same type). 

 Cosmonetta, Kaup, t. c, 196. 



Phhjiuoiutta, Brandt, Mem. Ac. St. Petersb. VI. 1849, 4 (same type). 

 " Phylaconetta, Brandt," Baird et Coues. 



Char. Most like Clangula. Bill very small (shorter than the tarsus), the lateral outlines con- 

 verging rapidly to the tip, which is occupied entirely by the very large nail ; depth of the max- 

 illa at the base about equal to its width ; lamellae entirely hidden by the overhanging maxillary 

 tomium ; upper basal portio'n of the maxilla forming a decided angle, inserted between the feather- 

 ing of the forehead and that of the lores, the former reaching rather farther forward ; a slight mem- 

 braneous lobe at the lower base of the maxilla, overhanging the rictus. Tail rather long (more 



