BIRDS OF KANSAS. ,65 



of buff; a white patcli at tlie base of the tail on each side; axillars immaculate 

 pure white. Bill uiiiforinly black; iris brown; feet yellowish. Adult female: 

 Wings, only, as in the male; upper parts dusky, the feathers bordered with dull 

 buff, the pileum and nape finely streaked; rest of head and neck, and lower 

 parts generally, brownish white, the head and neck streaked with dusky, except 

 on the chin and upper part of the throat, the streaks more dense immediately 

 before and behind the eye, thus forming an indistinct stripe on the side of the 

 head; feathers of the lower parts generally with dusky grayish brown centers, 

 forming spots when exposed, less distinct on the abdomen, where sometimes 

 obsolete." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. IVing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 10.00 2.5.2.5 7.50 3.20 1..30 1.65 



Female... 15.00 23.25 7.20 3.00 1.25 1.60 



I have only met with this little fresh-water Duck once in Cal- 

 ifornia, but have found it quite comnion in other parts of the 

 continent that I have visited; and during the summer months 

 it is abundant throughout the Mississippi valley. The birds 

 are very susceptible to cold, and leave for the south on the ap- 

 proach of frost. 



They inhabit the sloughs, shallow pools, and the reedy edges 

 of ponds and streams. Their food consists largely of insect 

 life, roots and tender blades of water plants, and seeds; the 

 wild rice a favorite. Their flesh is tender and esteemed very 

 highly. 



The birds are very swift in flight, and when under full head- 

 way it requires a quick eye and a snap shot to drop the one 

 aimed at. In alighting, they circle well over the ground, to 

 satisfy themselves that no enemy is near, but once down are not 

 watchful; and as they crowd closely together while feeding, as 

 w^ell as at rest, they are easily trapped or slaughtered by the mur- 

 derous shot gun in the hands of the pot hunter. 



The birds occasionally breed throughout their range, but 

 chiefly in the northern United States and southern British pos- 

 sessions. Their nests are placed on the ground in coarse grass, 

 reeds or rushes bordering the prairie slough, and are conq^osed 

 of the same material and lined with down. Eggs eight to 

 twelve, 1.86xl.3i; cream or pale buff; in form, oval to ovate. 



A set of eight eggs, taken in southern Dakota, June 13th, 

 1883, measure: 1.88x1.32, 1.88x1.37, 1.80x1.35, 1.79x1.35, 

 1.82x1.34, 1.86x1.37, 1.87x1.37, 1.82x1.35. 



