60 SIXTEENTH REPORT. 



and no doubt breeds along the shores of the rocky islands of Whitefish Bay. 

 It was observed on the beach and on the Shelldrake River. On July 25, 

 1912, an adult female and ten young in the down were seen sunning them- 

 selves on a drift log on the east beach not far from the mill town of Shelldrake, 

 at the mouth of the Shelldrake River. According to residents this river 

 receives its name from the large numbers of mergansers, here called shell- 

 drakes or fish ducks. On June 25, 1914, a female with young was observed 

 on the north beach. 



7. Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. — This species was seen but 

 twice. On July 26, 1912, three were seen at a beaver pond not far from 

 Little Lake, and on August 3, of the same year, it was observed again on a 

 small inland lake near Vermilion. 



8. Lophodytes cucuUatus. Hooded Merganser. — The hooded merganser 

 was the most common merganser on the point. It was often seen on the 

 small ponds and lakes, was observed in numbers on the Shelldrake River, 

 and a few were seen at Vermilion. The birds were very tame and often 

 came within a few rods of the observer. 



9. Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. — This duck occasionally nests in the wet 

 marshes about the ponds and lakes, but it was rarely seen as these marshes 

 were too wet and soft to enter. On August 1, 1912, a fine pair was seen on 

 a small lake near Vermilion. The hunters stated that it is very common 

 during the migrations, when many are shot for food. 



10. Anas rubripes. Black Duck. — The black duck is a rather common 

 breeder in the marshes about the ponds and lakes. A female and a brood 

 of half grown young were seen on the Shelldrake River about two miles 

 south of Vermihon on August 2, 1912, and a female with six half-grown 

 young was found, July 12, 1914, in a beach pond. Like the mallard, this 

 duck is also said to be common in the migrations. May 19, 1914, hundreds 

 of ducks, many of this species, passed the point going north very early in 

 the morning. 



11. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. — Only seen once, August 3, 

 1914, when Novy fomid it on the Shelldrake River just south of Vermilion. 



12. Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. — This species was not seen in 1912, but 

 in the Clarke collection there is a specimen taken on the point, and Clarke 

 stated that it often nests along the Shelldrake River. In 1914 a female 

 was seen on July 7, and a pair on August 8, Ijoth at Vermilion. 



13. Marila americana. Redhead.^ — There is in the collection of Mr. 

 Clarke a mounted bird that was taken on the point. It is said to be com- 

 mon during migration. 



14. Marila marila. Greater Bluebill. — ^This species was observed once, 

 May 16, 1914, when a pair was seen on Little Lake by the writer. It is 

 doubtless a regular migrant through the region. 



15. Marila affinis. Lesser Bluebill. — -There is a mounted specimen in the 

 Clarke collection. Said to be common in spring and fall. 



16. Clangula clangula americana. Golden-eye. — In 1914, the wi-iter saw 

 three adult birds on Lake Superior, near the end of the point. These were 

 the only ones seen, but there is a pair of birds in the Clarke collection, and 

 it is said to be common in the late fall and early spring. 



17. Charitonetta albeola. Buffle-head. — There is a fine male in the Clark 

 collection. The species is said to be common during migration. 



18. Harelda hyemalis. Old-squaw. — In 1912, the remains of several old- 

 squaw ducks were seen on the Lake Superior beach, and there is a momited 

 bird in the Clarke collection. Clarke informed the writer that the species is 



