494 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



former about the 10th of May, and in the latter about 

 the second week in September, and remaining until the 

 middle of October. It frequents fresh-water ponds and 

 streams in small flocks, where it feeds on various water 

 insects, their larvas, the seeds of aquatic plants, and the 

 tadpoles of the different frogs. Its flesh is well flavored, 

 and, with the next species, is one of the most popular in all 

 our markets. I have often seen individuals of this species 

 associate with the ducks in a farmer's yard or duck-pond, 

 and have known them to come to the barn-yard with the 

 tame fowls, and eat with them the corn thrown out for their 

 food. In the water, it is a graceful bird, moving about 

 with great activity. Its flight is rapid ; and accompanied 

 with a whistling murmur different from that of most of our 

 other ducks. 



This bird probably breeds in the secluded lake districts 

 of the northern portions of New England, as it is found in 

 considerable abundance in localities in Nova Scotia and 

 Canada in the same latitude. It nests early in June, some- 

 times by the 20th of May. 



The nest is placed on the ground, in a thick patch or 

 tussock of grass, usually in meadows within a few feet of a 

 small pond or stream. It is constructed of, first, a thick 

 layer of soft pieces of grass and weeds, on which is placed a 

 thin covering of the down and feathers from the breast of 

 the bird. The eggs are from five to eight in number : they 

 are usually ovoidal in form, sometimes nearly oval, and vary 

 in dimensions from 1.90 by 1.32 inch (Nova Scotia) to 1.73 

 by 1.22 inch. Their color is a dirty-white, with a slight 

 greenish tint. 



QUERQUEDULA, Stephens. 



Querquedula, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool., XIL (1824). (Type Anas querque- 

 dula, L.) 



Bill narrow, lengthened, a little longer than the foot, widening a little to the 

 end, which is obtusely rounded ; the tail occupying about one-third the width ; 

 the lamelhc visible in the lateral profile; the upper lateral angle at the base of 

 bill extending rather further back than the lower edge. 



