AXATIN.E — THE DUCKS — NETTION. 5 



In the Aleutian Islands Mr. Dall states that he found it to be abundant in the 

 winter, and to breed occasionally in Unalashka. The greater number of individuals 

 migrate northward about the 1st of May. Mr. Bannister found this bird very common 

 at St. Michael's and at Xulato, as well as on the Yukon Eiver generally. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Dall, it is one of the earliest comers to that region, and one of the first 

 to lay. He obtained its eggs from a nest of dry grass in a sedge tussock about jNIay 

 20. Except while migrating this bird appeared to be solitary in its habits. Mv. Dall 

 regards it as far superior to any other Duck for the table. It was obtained from Sitka 

 and Kadiak by Mr. Bischoff, and is nowhere rare in any part of the Yukon Region. 

 Richardson speaks of it as being abundant even as far north as the extremity of the 

 continent, both in the wooded and in the barren districts. Captain Blakiston obtained 

 it on the Saskatchewan, as well as Hudson's Bay ; and it was found by Mr. Bernard 

 Ross common on the Mackenzie, to the Arctic Circle. Hearne states that it is found 

 at Hudson's Bay in considerable numbers near the sea-coast, and is still more plen- 

 tiful in the interior parts of that region, flying in such large flocks that he has often 

 killed from twelve to fourteen of these birds at a single shot, and has seen both 

 Indians and English kill a much larger number of them. At their first arrival they 

 are usually quite poor, although even then they are generally esteemed good eating. 

 He adds that this species is far more prolific than any of the Ducks resorting to 

 Hudson's Bay, and that he has seen the old ones swimming at the head of seventeen 

 young when the latter were not much larger than walnuts. This Duck remains in 

 that region as long as the season will permit, and some were killed by Hearne, in 1775, 

 on the w^ay from Cumberland House to York Fort, in the rivers he and his party 

 passed through, as late as the 20th of October. At that time the birds were a perfect 

 mass of fat, and their delicate white flesli was regarded as a great luxury. 



The Green-winged Teal is found in even greater abundance on the Pacific than on 

 the Atlantic coast. Mr. E. Browne gives it as one of the common birds of Vancouver 

 Island. 



Mr. E. Adams (" Ibis," 1878) mentions that this species was present, but not 

 numerous, about St. Michael's. A few pairs were generally to be found near the most 

 grassy of the lakes, where they were continually playing about, ducking their heads, 

 and catching insects from the surface of the water. They were late in arriving, none 

 coming before the 20th of May, but remained to breed. Their name in the Eski 

 dialect is Ting-a-zo-meok. 



According to Dr. Cooper, during the wet season it migrates throughout the entire 

 State of California, appearing on every little pool and stream in large flocks, especially 

 toward the north. It remains throughout the winter as far north as Puget Sound, 

 and also occurs all the way from there to Mexico. It is much less timid than the 

 larger species, and, congregating closely together, often furnishes to the sportsman a 

 fine supply of game, while its flesh is as good as that of most other kinds, and is, 

 indeed, by some preferred to all others. 



According to Dr. Xewberry this Duck breeds in the mountains of Oregon, although 

 he did not succeed in finding its nest. 



Mr. J. A. Allen met with it near Fort Hays, in Western Kansas, in May. He after- 

 Avard noticed it in great numbers in the valley of Salt Lake. Dr. Cooper also found 

 it common in St. Mary's Valley, Montana, in August. It probably breeds among the 

 neighboring mountains. 



In its migrations, both in the fall and spring, it is abundant througliout NeAV 

 England. In the fall it is common on the coast, and on the inland waters late in 

 October, In open winters a few of these birds remain nearly throughout the season. 



