VOL. XIV 



1801. 



J PKOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 421 



liatcbed, and take to the water witli tliem. From frequent observation 

 I feel convinced that they almost invariably select hmd locked sheets 

 of water for the purpose of rearing their young, while most of the other 

 species of ducks give the preference to running streams. 



147. Aythya vallisneria (Wilson). Canvas-back. 



A few sets of eggs of this famous duck were found in the vicinity of 

 Fort Anderson, where it is tolerably abundant during the season of 

 nidificatiou. The American Scaup Duck, A. marila nearctica Steju., 

 is also believed to be a summer resident, but I do not think I ever 

 found any of its eggs. 



149. Aythya affinis (Eyt.). Lesser Scaup Duck. 



Fairly numerous even to the very edge of the wooded country on the 

 east side of the Anderson River. Over a dozen uests were secured — and 

 they were usually found in the midst of a swamp — a mere hole or de- 

 pression in the centre of a tuft of turf or tussock of grass, lined with 

 more or less down, feathers, and hay. Nine was the geneeal number of 

 eggs in a nest, though a few contained no more than six or seven. A. 

 collar is (Donovan) probably breeds in the same quarter. 



152. Glaucionetta islaudica (Gmel.). Barrow'.s Grolden-«ye. 



Although an individual bird of this species was shot by Mr. Murdo 

 MacLeod in the vicinity of Fort Anderson, on 29th June, 1803, and a 

 male example obtained there on the 14th June, 1864, yet our best efforts 

 failed to discover a single nest in that or any other quarter, and I think 

 it may be classed among the rarest of ducks visiting that region. We 

 never observed any specimens of the G. clangnla amcricana (Bonap.), 

 nor of the Bnfde-head, Charitoitetta albeola {h\\n\.), m the Anderson 

 country. 



154. Claiigula hyemalis (Liun.). Old-squaw. 



The Long-tailed Duck breeds in great numbers in the neighborhood of 

 Fort Anderson, along the Anderson River, on the Barren Grounds, and 

 on the shores of the Arctic Sea. Considerably over one hundred nests 

 were taken, and the eggs varied from five to seven, the latter being the 

 maximum number recorded in any one instance. In its make the nest 

 is generally very similar to that of Dajila acuta. From personal obser- 

 vation, also, I have come to the conclusion that the usual quantity of 

 down necessary for a duck's nest is seldom met with before a full set of 

 eggs has been deposited, and that the i)rocess of lining with down, 

 which is plucked off from the body of the female, goes on simultane- 

 ously with their laying. Thousands of "Old Squaws" were seen appar- 

 ently feeding and otherwise disporting themselves in the waters of 

 Franklin Bay. If present, it is rather surprising that we never came 

 across a duck of the Harlequin species — Ristrlonicus hi.strinnicus. 



