BIRDS OF MARSHALL COUNTY 141 



A crippled bird (female) was found just above the Soldiers' 

 Home on May 9, 1914. These are the only records the writer 

 has for the species in this territory. It was probably a fairly 

 regular migrant. 



25. Erismatura jo/maicensis. Ruddy Duck. The ruddy duck 

 was noted only twice, both times in the spring. On ]\Iay 2, 1914, 

 a pair were seen swimming about in the Goose ponds and on 

 March 31, 1915, another pair were seen at close range in the 

 same pond. It was probably not an uncommon duck. 



26. Choi hyperhoreus hyperhoreus. Snow Goose. A large 

 flock of snow geese probably of this subspecies were noted in a 

 pasture near tlie Goose ponds on March 15, 1913, but none were 

 secured. Very few geese alighted in this territoiy imless forced 

 to do so by stormy weather and no other snow geese were seen. 



27. A7iser alhifrons gamheli. White-fronted Goose; A flock 

 of about twenty-five of these geese were noted in the lower end 

 of the Goose ponds on March 30, 1913. A convenient dike al- 

 lowed approach within sixty yards to watch them for some time 

 through the glasses. On March 31, 1915, three were seen in 



28. Branta canadensis canadensis. Canada Goose. The 

 Canada goose was a common spring migrant from March 7 to 

 April 4. It was also common in the fall from October 12 to 

 December 1. Most of them passed high over head without 

 stopping, but occasionally they were driven down in numbers 

 by unfavorable weather. 



Although B. c. hutchinsii undoubtedly occurs, the writer never 

 handled specimens. Two killed by Mr, Henry Friese October 

 12, 1913, and presented to the writer were typical canadensis. 



A terrific wind and rainstorm the night of March 23, 1913, 

 drove great numbers of these geese to the ground. They were 

 heard passing back and forth over town and the next morning 

 they were found to be common over the entire river bottom. 

 By eight o'clock they had all disappeared. 



In the spring of 1915 a flock of about twenty birds remained 

 in a large corn field for nearly two weeks. They wandered about 

 the field feeding on waste ■corn and left a perfect network of 

 tracks, in the mud and snow. The little knoll where they 

 roosted at night was covered with dung and feathers and gave 



