BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 37 



they may occasionally be seen flying further up or down the 

 river in small parties. 



Once in January, 1874, when the mercury had descended to 

 forty degrees below^ zero while a north wind was blowing 

 terrifically, I saw a flock of six of this species flying directly 

 into the teeth of the blizzard at their ordinary velocity of not 

 less than ninety miles an hour. The compactness of their 

 flocks of half a dozen to fifteen in their flight is characteristic, 

 and their directness fully equal to that of the Green-winged 

 Teal, (Anas caros inensis). About the third week in April, or a 

 little later, they disperse for incubation. They build their 

 nests but a short distance from the water, and like the Wood 

 Duck, in the hollows of trees, or upon the stubs of such as have 

 been broken off by the wind. One discovered by a duck -friend 

 of mine (to the location of which he called my attention many 

 years since ) was placed in as hallow cavity rotted out of a lean- 

 ing trunk some forty feet from the ground, and consisted of 

 w^eeds, grass and feathers, the latter completely concealing the 

 others. It contained thirteen perfectly white, subspherical, 

 thick-shelled eggs, that averaged 2.12 by l./O in measurement. 

 In one instance, a lady sharing my interest in birds and game, 

 while rowing with me, noticed what w^e supposed to be a Wood 

 Duck carrying her chick by the neck from a tree into the 

 water. We waited in vain some time to see if the bird would 

 not bring another young one. Reaching the middle of the 

 small lake, w^e saw the duck, by the aid of the field-glass, re- 

 sume the loving task, and discovered the bird to be a female of 

 the species under consideration. This was on the 18th of May. 

 Mr. Treganowan found the baby birds in Becker county, on the 

 17th of August, showing that in one instance at least, a second 

 brood presumptively was brought out in the same season. lam 

 not confident that this is universally the case however. The food 

 at this time embraces fish, molluscs, and aquatic insects. With 

 the crest fully extended, the male of this species, as already 

 intimated, presents a most beautiful view when swimming 

 leisurely on the undisturbed water, under the deep shadows of 

 the environing woods. He takes none of the burdens of incuba- 

 tion upon him, but at that time hides himself away between 

 the narrow banks of some solitary stream abounding with small 

 fish, to resume in due time his place at the head of his well 

 developed family. Like the other fish ducks, they stay as long 

 as the ice will let them on the shores of the lakes, whence they 

 go to open rapids, and late in November mostly drift more 



