128 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 18-N0. 9 



Ducks in Southern Wisconsin. 



Probably the greatest sport to be had by 

 the hunters of this locality is with the Ducks. 

 Nothing, in bird shooting, can be compared 

 to ducking, especially shooting over decoys 

 when the birds are flying well. We have 

 quite a list of ducks here, which I give, hop- 

 ing that it may be of interest to ornitholo- 

 gists and sportsmen alike. To me it is al- 

 ways an interesting group in either way. 



1. Merganser aviericanus, American 

 Merganser ; Sheldrake. This bird is a toler- 

 ably common migrant, but is not much hunted 

 on account of the rank, " fishy " taste of its 

 flesh. 



2. -1/ scrrator, Red-breasted Mergan- 

 ser. A rare migrant ; table qualities same 

 as last. 



3. Lophidvtes citciiUatits, Hooded Mer- 

 ganser ; Fish Duck. .'\n abundant migrant, 

 and in the fall very fair eating, although in the 

 spring the flesh is very fishy, as with the two 

 foregoing Fish Ducks. 



4. Alias boschas, Mallard, "Green- 

 head" {$). As line a table Duck as we 

 have ; rather a common summer resident 

 and an abundant migrant. Rarely decoyed, 

 but many are shot in the creeks and ponds 

 before the sea-ducks arrive. Late in the fall 

 they may be found in the corn-fields. 



5. ,-J. o/'.vfwrf?, Hlack Duck. .\ tolerable 

 common migrant, having the same general 

 habits of the Mallards. 



6. A. ainericatia, Baldpate. Common 

 migrant. Does not decoy very well and is 

 usually taken with long shots. Very good 

 eating. 



7. A. caroltiici/sis, (Ireen-winged Teal. 

 This pretty little Duck is a common migrant, 

 arriving early, so as to afford good shooting 

 in the rice marshes and small ponds, along 

 with the Blue-wing and Wood Duck. Often 

 found feeding in company with the Coot and 

 (Irebe. 



8. A. discors, Blue- winged Teal. A 

 common summer resident ; fine table bird. 



g. Spattda clypeata. Shoveller, Spoon- 

 bill. A rare summer resident and tolerably 

 common migrant. .A few summer in retired 

 places and are shot now and then during the 

 fall. Said by some sportsmen to be " fools " 

 and easily deceived, but all that I have ever 

 seen were very wary. .A fine table fowl. 



ID. Dafila acuta, Pintail, Sprig-tail. A 

 tolerably common spring migrant but very 

 rare in the fall. Not very often secured of 

 late. 



11. Aix sponsa, ^\'ood Duck. This 

 Duck is an abundant summer resident of me 

 wild-rice marshes and retired ponds, and 

 many are shot in the early fall, the sportsman 

 turning out for them on September i, as they 

 do for Chicken farther west on the first day 

 of the season. Rarely taken in full plumage. 



12. Avf/iya americaiia, Redhead. A 

 tolerably common migrant. Decoys well in 

 the spring off the points of the larger lakes. 



13. A. valllsneria. Canvas-back. Tol- 

 erably common migrant, but rather late. 

 Not many are shot. 



14. ,1. affinis, Lesser Scaup Duck, Blue- 

 bill. Rare summer resident, but abundant 

 migrant, sometimes in very large flocks. 

 Decoys well and gives good shooting. 



15. A. collaris, Ring-necked Duck, 

 Blue-bill. A migrant with the last, and in 

 about equal numbers. 



16. Glaucionetta claiigiila ameri- 

 cana, American Golden-eye, Whistler. Very 

 rare summer resident and abundant migrant. 

 Decoys well, often diving or swimming into 

 the stool. 



17. G. /jV<7«(//(rn', Barrows' Golden-eye. 

 An accidental migrant. Four were taken in 

 the spring several years ago on Delavan Lake. 



18. Charito)ictta alheola, Bufflehead or 

 Butterball. .An abundant migrant, easily 

 decoyed. .A very beautiful little Duck when 

 in full plumage. 



19. Oide7nia a/iicricatia, American Sco- 

 ter. A very rare visitor during the migra- 

 tions. A flock of six appeared this fall on 

 November 12. 



