302 SWIMMERS. 



These birds migrate across the country to the Western plains, 

 where they nest, from North Dakota and Manitoba northward, 

 ran<j:ino: as far as Alaska. 



LABRADOR DUCK. 



PIED DUCK. 



Ca^iptolaimus l.\br.\dorius. 



Char. Male, head, neck, breast, and most of wings white; crown, 

 collar or neck, back, primary wing-feathers, tail, and under parts black ; 

 bill orange at the base, the terminal half black ; legs and feet lead blue. 

 Female : brownish gray, the wings darker, — primaries dusky. Length 

 i8 to 20 inches. 



Nest and Eggs. Unknown. 



Nuttall made but slight mention of this species, supposing it to 

 be a straggler from the Pacific. He reported it as visiting the 

 Middle States in winter, and stated that the gunners of New Jersey 

 and Pennsylvania called it the Sand-shoal Duck. The flesh, he 

 adds, is dry and unsavory. 



The majority of the ornithologists of the present day believe 

 that the species has become extinct, though some forty years ago 

 it occurred regularly all along the coast from Labrador to Dela- 

 ware, and nested in the lower fur countries. 



The last example known to have been taken was shot on Long 

 Island in 1875. Previous to that date one had been taken at 

 Grand Menan in 1871. 



As the bird was shy and difhcult to approach, a strong swimmer 

 and of rapid tlight, its extinction is a curious phenomenon, and un- 

 accountable. There are only thirty-three specimens known to be 

 preserved in the museums of America. 



