24 



PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 7 



County by the middle of May, and ( ). W. I toward found an incomplete sel of five 

 fresh eggs at Nigger Slough, Los Angeles County, May 25. 1911. I found the 

 species common at San Jacinto Lake, Riverside County, May 27, 2S, 1911 (Con- 

 dor xiii. 1911, 158), and C. S. Sharp records it as breeding near Escondido, San 

 Diego County (Condor ix, 1 ( >07, 86). 



67. (142). Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). Shoveller. 



The Shoveller is an abundant winter visitant, arriving mostly in October and 

 leaving in March and early April. A few remain through the summer and un- 

 doubtedly breed, but I know of no sets of eggs having been taken in this locality. 

 I have frequently seen the birds on fresh water ponds of Los Angeles County in 

 summer, and on May 27, 28. 1911, I noted several pairs at San Jacinto Lake, Riv- 

 erside County (Condor xm, 1911, 158). E. E. Eckdale informed II. J. Lelande 

 that he has seen Shovellers accompanied by young in the vicinity of Los Angeles. 



68. (143) Dafila acuta (Linnaeus'). Pintail. 



The "sprig" is the most abundant of the larger ducks during the winter sea 

 son. A few arrive from the north in September, but the main body does not show 

 up until well along in October. It leaves mostly in March. Breeds in small 

 numbers at Lear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, and also on spme of the 

 lakes at lower altiudes, south to San Jacinto Lake, Riverside County. I have 

 noted this bird at Xigger Slough, Los Angeles County, in summer, and found it 

 rather common at San Jacinto Lake in May, 1911. On May 28. a female accom- 

 panied by four young was seen at the latter point (Condor xiii, 1911, 158). 



69. (144) Aix sponsa ( Linnaeus). Wood Duck. 



Occasional in winter, but much rarer than formerly. According to C. I '. 

 Streator, occasionally met with in 1885. beyond the Santa Ynez Mountains. 

 about ten miles from Santa Barbara ( On. & Ool. xi. 1886, 90). Formerly 

 recorded by L>. W. Evermann as breeding in Ventura County (Auk in, 1886, 

 89). Antonin Jay informs me that twenty-five or thirty years ago he occa- 

 sionally saw the species near Los Angeles and shot several specimens. The 

 following records are all that I have seen in late years. Male of the year in 

 nearly adult plumage, received by R. Reynolds, the Los Angeles taxidermist, killed 

 near Oxnard, Ventura Count)-, about November 6, 1905 (Grinne.ll, Condor 

 vin, l')06, 29). Adult male, also mounted by Mr. Reynolds, taken by W. B. 

 Lowers near Redlands, San Bernardino County, October 2. 1909. Adult male, 

 now in collection of M. F. ( iilman, shot by his brother at Banning, Riverside 

 County, in April, 1907. Male seen by C. S. Sharp, shot at Ramona, San 

 Diego Comity, in November, 1905 (Condor cm, 1906, 75). 



70. (146) Marila americana (Eyton). Redhead. 



Common winter visitant. Less plentiful in summer, ddie majority arrive 

 in October and leave in March. A few remain through the summer and breed 

 on fresh water marshes in May and June. I found a nest containing nine 

 pipped eggs at Xigger Slough, Los Angeles County, May 13, 1911; and Antonin 

 Jay found a nest containing eleven fresh eggs of the Redhead and lour eggs 

 of the Ruddy Duck, in the same locality, May 31. 1903. On May 28, 1911, 1 



