LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 165 



it would he fair to infer that this species breeds on the 

 eastern portion of the Arctic region, and if present at all, 

 is an exceptional visitor within the limits of Alaska. 



The nest, found on the lower Anderson River by Mac- 

 Farlane, was placed in a swampy tract near a wooded 

 country, and was simply a depression in the center of a 

 tuft of grass, and lined with down, probably from the 

 female's breast. Another was placed in a clump of wil- 

 lows in the midst of a swamp, and close to a small lake. 

 The location of these nests were somewhat different from 

 those chosen by the Big Scaup Duck, which, as already 

 stated, were almost in the water, or so near that the 

 female could swim to and from it. The eggs, usually 

 nine in number, are a pale grayish bufif sometimes tinged 

 with olive. The male keeps in the vicinity of the nest, 

 but it is not known that he shares in any of the duties of 

 incubation. 



The Little Broad Bill is a cold-w^eather Duck, and is 

 frequently observed flying about when the ponds and 

 rivers are nearly all frozen over. At such times it visits 

 the air holes, and is very busy diving for food, which it 

 brings up from the bottom. It arrives within our 

 borders rather late in the autumn, and keeps in large 

 flocks in the center of the broad water, away from the 

 shore. It is one of the most expert divers among the 

 Duck tribe, and can reach the bottom to pull up grasses 

 or pick up mollusks, in as deep water as any of its rela- 

 tives, no matter how skillful they may be in the business. 

 Like the Canvas Back and other species which frequent 

 deep water the Little Black Head propels itself beneath 

 the surface by its wings, using the webbed feet merely as 

 rudders. 



This Duck is very tenacious of life, and it requires a 

 hard blow, and shot of considerable size, to kill it. 



