48 BULLETIX 130, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



(ough that only a small portion of the birds shot down are killed, 

 and it is almost useless to pursue the wounded ones, as they are 

 more than a match for the gunner in rough water. 



Winter. — Oldsquaws are common in winter as far north as south- 

 ern Greenland and the Diomede Islands in Bering Straits, where 

 they can find open water among the ice, but they are more abundant 

 below the regions of frozen seas. Even on the New England coast 

 they sometimes encounter ice conditions too severe for them. Mr. 

 Mackay (1892) writes: 



Although, as their Latin name expresses, they are particularly a cold- 

 weather bird, it is a matter of interest that ducks with such Arctic proclivities 

 should find the effects of the climate so rigorous at times on the New Eng- 

 land coast that they are unable to sustain life and are in consequence obliged 

 to succumb. Yet such is the case. It was during the winter of ISSS, when, 

 standing on the high land of Nantucket Island and looking seaward in any 

 direction, nothing but ice was visible ; for a moutJi the harbor was closed and 

 there was sleighing on it. There was no open water in sight except an oc- 

 casional crack in the ice caused by the change of tides ; most of the sea fowl 

 had left this locality during the early stage of the severely cold weather. 

 Many oldsquaws remained, however, until they were incapacitated through 

 lack of food and consequent loss of strength from doing so. As a result it 

 was a common occurrence to find them lying around dead or dying on the 

 shore. Those that were alive were so weak they could not fly, and on ex- 

 amination proved to be nothing literally but skin and bone, others apparently 

 had starved to death. 



Referring to their habits here, he says : 



Off the south side of Nantucket Island the oldsquaws collect in countless 

 myriads. On February 19, 1891, I saw a flock of oldsquaws estimated to 

 contain 2,000 birds of£ the south shore of Nantucket about 5 miles from the 

 island, and I know of no better place to observe them in numbers. They 

 arrive about the third to the last week in October, according to the weather, 

 and remain until the latter part of November ; most of them then move farther 

 south. The height of their abundance is the first half of November. They 

 congregate on " Old Man's Rip" and on " Miacomet Rip," shoal ground 2 to 3 

 miles from the south shore of the island, the water there being 3 to 4 fathoms 

 deep. Here they live in security, with an abundance of food, during the day. 

 About 3 o'clock p. m. they commence to leave this place for the Sound (the 

 movement continuing until after dark) where they regularly roost, flying 

 around that part of the island which affords them at the time the greatest 

 shelter from the wind, returning on the following morning to their feeding 

 ground by which ever route is the most favorable. An examination of the 

 stomachs of some of those oldsquaws which I shot in the early morning com- 

 ing from the Sound, showed them to be empty. I think occasionally on clear 

 calm nights they remain on their feeding grounds, and do not go into the 

 Sound to roost. They apparently prefer to feed in water not more than 

 3 to 4 fathoms deep, or shallower, unless compelled in order to obtain food. 

 I have noticed north of Cape Cod during the winter months that some old- 

 squaws will feed and remain just back of the line of breakers on the beaches, 

 and also around the rocks, but generally they are in small and detached groups 

 of but few individuals. 



