Buffle-head {Charltouctta albeola) 



Range : Breeds from upper Yukon, lower ^Mackenzie. Great Slave Lake, 

 and central Keewatin south to British Columbia, northern Montana, and central 

 Ontario ; winters from Aleutian Islands, British Columbia, Idaho, Colorado, 

 Missouri, southern Michigan, western New York, and New Brunswick south to 

 northern Lower California, central Mexico and Florida. 



The common name of this little duck is strikingly suggestive of its appear- 

 ance, for the head, with its white markings and fluffy feathers, seems too big 

 for the diminutive neck and body. An equally suggestive name in fall, when 

 it becomes very fat, is "butterball." Though by no means strictly confined 

 to fresh water, the buffle-head prefers fresh water, and is more abundant on 

 the larger lakes and ponds of the far West than in eastern waters. Wherever 

 found, east or west, it is extremely friendly, and when the gunner puts out a 

 flock of wooden decoys our little duck immediately responds to the invitation 

 to alight and be sociable. Taking advantage of this amiable weakness — some 

 might call it stupidity — the gunner has already greatly reduced the number of 

 buffle-heads, and left scarcely a tithe of their former thousands. Very few 

 ducks can dive more quickly at need than the bufHe-head, and in this respect it 

 almost rivals the little grebe known as the "water-witch" or "hell diver." This 

 skill as a diver is of great service to the duck in its search for food. It is adept 

 at catching small fish and, perhaps, because of this and of other animal food, it.s 

 flesh is not greatly esteemed. 



They Didn't Think 



Once there was a robin 



Lived outside the door, 

 Who wanted to go inside 



And hop upon the floor. 



"Oh, no." said the mother, 

 "You must stay with me; 

 Little birds are safest 

 Sitting in a tree." 



"I don't care," said Robin, 



And gave his tail a fling. 

 "I don't think the old folks 



Know quite everything." 



Down he flew, and Kitty seized him. 

 Before he'd time to blink. 

 "Oh," he cried, "I'm sorry, 

 But I didn't think." 



— Phoebe Car}'. 

 469 



