SCAUP urcK. i6i 



gathered together, and down, plucked from the l)ir(rs 

 own breast to form a bed, is placed upon it, and from six 

 to eight eggs, rather a small complement for a Duck, are 

 deposited. These are pale olive gray in hue, and are 

 hidden in the downy covering whenever the female is o-ff 

 the nest. June is the month for incubation, and the 

 period of hatching must be from three to four wrecks, 

 for in August half-grown young are seen. As soon as 

 the ducklings escape from the ^^^y they are led by the 

 mother to some large body of water, where frequently 

 several broods unite and form quite a flock. 



In October the Big Blue Bill enters the limits of the 

 United States, coming from its Northern home, and is 

 found along the coast of both oceans, going as far south 

 as Mexico during the winter. It flies with great swiftness, 

 and is a most expert diver; a wounded bird, unless very 

 badly crippled, being practically impossible to capture. 

 The Bay Broad Bill, as it is sometimes called, does not 

 go in such large flocks as is the habit of its smaller rela- 

 tive, and keeps a good deal about the coves and marshes. 

 It decoys readily, and utters at times a note similar to 

 the guttural sound made by the Canvas Back, Red Head, 

 and other diving Ducks. I have not noticed that it 

 associates much with the Little Broad Bill, but keeps to 

 the society of its own species, and goes in flocks usually 

 of less than a dozen members. At no time have I ever 

 seen it rafted in the open water in great numbers, as 

 frequently is the case with the Little Black Head. 



The present species is quite a large Duck, and has a 

 metallic green luster on the feathers of its head and neck, 

 which enables it easily to be discriminated from the 

 purple-hued head of the allied form. It bears many 

 popular names among the gunners throughout the 

 United States, a number of which are the same as those 



