THE OOLOGIST 



95 



Dejila actita, Piutail, Sprigtail. Often 

 shot over decoys. 



Aix sponsa, Wood Duck, Summer 

 Dui'k. The only Dnck that breeds 

 with us regularly. The male is the 

 most gaudy of all our Ducks. This 

 species is often called Acorn Duck, 

 and from its habit of nesting in hollow 

 trees is sometimes called Tree Duck. 

 It is found in the marshes and on 

 streams bordered by woodland. 



Aythya americana, Redhead, Pochard. 

 Years ago when Bush and Gunpowder 

 Rivers were full of wild celery ( Vdlis- 

 neria spiralis) we had splendid .shoot- 

 ing, and the Redhead was abundant. 

 Of late years this grass has been killed 

 out and the Ducks have been scarce. 

 Still, on March 5, 1887, my uncle and I 

 shot ninety-eight in less than thiee 

 hours. They sometimes stop on border of 

 inland water during migi'atiou. Some 

 years ago about six hundred spent the 

 day on Lake Roland, oue of our water 

 supplies situated seven miles from the 

 city. 



Aythya vaUisneria, Canvas-back. 

 This, the tiuest of our Ducks, like the 

 preceeding species is gradually disap- 

 pearing from our rivers; its principal 

 food ( V. spiralis) being almost entirely 

 gone. AVhen feeding on this grass a 

 tine, delicate Havor is imparted to their 

 flesh and they bring a high price in 

 market, at times as high as $10 per pair. 



It is one of our best decoying Ducks. 

 If one makes up its mind to come to 

 the stools it is bound to get there. 



Aythya inarila neardica, American 

 Scaup Duck, Raft Duck, Shuffler, Bay 

 Blackhead, etc. The Blackhead is a 

 common Duck in our rivers and in 

 Chesapeake Bay. It decoys well and 

 is a good table Duck, liut not so highly 

 esteemed as some of the other species 

 It often associates with the Redhead. 



Aythya affinis, Lesser Scaup Duck, 

 Little Blackhead, Creek Blackhead, etc. 

 Much smaller than the preceding 

 species. Decoys well. I have killed a 

 great many on Dundee Creek. 



Olaucionctta danguJa ttimericana, 

 American Golden-eye, Jingler,Whilfler,. 

 Whistler. Common;killed over decoys;, 

 named Whistler from the sound made 

 by its wings while flying. Often while 

 in the blind half asleep I have been, 

 aroused by the sound of their wings. 



Ckaritonetta aibeola^ Buffle-head',. 

 Butfer-ball, Dipper. These li'tleDuoks- 

 are often found on inland lakes. I have 

 several times seen them on Lake Roland. 

 They are very difBeult to shoot while 

 on the water as they dive at the flash- 

 of the gun. For this reason some call 

 them 'Hell Divers." 



Clangukt hyemalis. Old-squaw, South 

 Southerly, Long-tailed Duck, etc. 

 Common and trashy; often shot over 

 decoys while watching for better game. 



Oidemia americniia, American Scoter. 

 This and the other Scoters are some- 

 times killed, but they are not tit for 

 the table. Often called Tarpots, Sea 

 Coots. 



Erismalura ruhida, RudtPj Duck. The 

 Coot, as it is commonly called by our 

 gunners, is a flne little table Duck. It 

 does not often decoy, l)ut will frequent- 

 ly swim into the stools. I have some- 

 tin)es been shooting Ducks from- the- 

 P. W. & B. rail road bridge over Gum- 

 powder River, during a perfectly calm 

 day. when the surface of the water be- 

 low the bridge was coverefl with large 

 "rafts" of these little Ducks. -If a 

 breeze would ruffle the water they 

 would arise singly and in small flocks, 

 sometimes flying up the river and rais- 

 ing just enough to clear the bridge 

 they would pass vvithin a few yards of 

 me with the velocity of an arrow. Un- 

 der such circumstances I once saw a 

 man .shoot away two hundred shells 

 and only bag a single bird. 



Chen hyperborea. Lesser Snow Goose. 

 Rare; I have only seen it on two oc- 

 casions, March 10, 1890 and in October, 

 1890. In the latter case I was fishing 

 from the rail road bridge over Bear 

 Creek and a pair flew directly over Hke. 

 about forty yards high. 



