66 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Rather more numerous than the j^recediuij;, Ijeiiiij; often seen in 

 spring and fall in flocks of six or eiglit, fishing; ;il)()ut tlie niDuths of 

 the inlets in Hamilton Bay. 



This species is common to l)otli continents, and breeds on tlie 

 rocky islets on many of the inland lochs in the north of Scotland. 

 All the young birds appear for the first season in the ])lumage of the 

 female, but the male can readily l)e distinguished l)y a })eculiai- bony 

 enlargement in the windpipe, which does not occur in the ojjposite 

 sex. 



It is said tha^ in this, and in the preceding species, as soon as the 

 female has completed her set of eggs, the male has the ungallant 

 habit of ignoring all family responsibilities, and leaving the entii-e 

 care of the youngsters to their mother, who leads them carefully to 

 the water, and gives them their first lesson at a very earh' age. 



In Manitoba, Macoun says that the species "breeds on all the 

 northern streams and jwnds, feeds largely on vegetable matter, and 

 is quite edible." 



In the fall they occur in small flocks along the southern bordei- of 

 Ontario, but none are observed to remain over the winter. 



Mr. Nelson says, regarding this species : " During the sununcr of 

 1881, I found them breeding upon 8t. Lawrence Island ancl along 

 the Siberian coast from Plover Bay to Cape North through Behi-ing 

 Strait. On the Alaskan coast they breed everywhei-e in suitable 

 places, from Sitka to Icy Cape, and perhaps to Point Bai'row." 



