CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. QI 



We have never observed this species on the prairie west of Mani- 

 toba or in the Rocky mountains, but after crossing the Coast range 

 and descending to the lower Fraser, at Agassiz, we found it breeding. 

 Fannin reports it abundant and breeding along the lower Fraser at 

 Sunias, Chilliwack, and Burnaby lake ; and Brooks says that an odd 

 bird or two often remains all winter. Spreadborough saw two at 

 Midway, B.C., and one on a small pond in the woods at Penticton, 

 B.C. 



This is another species that has an eastern and a western race that 

 are not known to interbreed. 



Breeding Notes.— For several years a pair used to breed in a 

 soft-maple stub, about twenty feet from the ground, on the bank 

 of a creek near Bracebridge, Ont. I never saw the nest, so cannot 

 describe it, but have seen the old bird carry her young to the 

 water in her bill. (Spreadborough.) This species builds in holes 

 in trees and places where large branches have broken away. The 

 nest is composed of dry grass and feathers. The eggs — six to twelve 

 or more — are something between a buff and a pale green in colour. 

 When the nest is built on a broken branch it is composed of dry 

 sticks, grass and feathers. About the first of May is the time when 

 they begin to lay at Ottawa, Ont. (G. R. White.) A few years ago 

 this handsome duck was quite common in the latter part of summer 

 in many creeks that run into the St. Lawrence. In these same 

 locahties now (1898) I scarcely see any birds. A few pairs breed 

 every year at Estcott pond and elsewhere in the county of Leeds, 

 and I have seen young birds in June, though I have never seen the 

 nest. It also breeds sparingly in north Hastings co., Ont. Two or 

 three broods were brought out this year (1906) at Moira lake near 

 Madoc. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regularly distributed throughout 

 western Ontario. Breeds along marshes and rivers. (W.Saunders.) 



LIV. AYTHYA Boie. 1822. 



146. Redhead. Pochard. 



Aythya americana (Eyt.) Baird. 1858. 



Rare migrant in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and also rare 

 on the coast of Labrador, none seen in the interior. Rather com- 

 mon in the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, and, according to Mcll- 

 wraith, often abundant in Ontario during the migrations. Saun- 

 ders reports them breeding in the large marshes at Lake St. Clair. 



