26 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 7 



April. Rare during sonic winters. I found this species fairly common at 

 Nigger Slough, Los Angeles County, April 22, 1910, and saw an adult male 

 in the same locality. May 1, following. J. (i. Cooper noted the Buffle-head 

 abundant at San Diego from October to April 20 (B., Br. & Ridg., W. B. N. 

 A. ii. 1884, 49). 



77. (154) Harelda hyemalis (Linnaeus). Old-squaw. 



Rare winter visitant, south to San Diego. H. W. Henshaw took a female 

 of this species at Santa Barbara, June 9, 1875 (Ann. Rep. Ch. En. U. S. G. S., 

 1876, App. JJ, 274). In the Cline collection of mounted birds are two males 

 taken in Los Angeles County in the early 80's. A male and female in the col- 

 lection of F. S. Daggett, were shot by E. R. Hull near Newport, Orange County, 

 November 28, 1900 (Condor m, 1901, 15). L. Belding took a specimen at San 

 Diego. January 13, 1896 (Anthony. Auk xm, 1896. 172). 



78. (163) Oidemia americana Swainson. American Scoter. 

 Occurs occasionally in winter along the California coast, in company with 



the other surf ducks. South rarely to Catalina Island. Two pairs were noted 

 by R. H. Beck at Monterey in November. 1909 ( Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., ser. 4, 

 vol. in, 1 ( M0, 69). H. W. Henshaw took a specimen at Santa Cruz Island in 

 the summer of 1875 (Ann. Rep. Ch. En. U. S. G. S.. 1876, App. }], 275). J. 

 G. Cooper records this species as occurring along the whole coast of California 

 ( B.. Br. & Ridg., W. B. X. A. n. 1884, 89). He informed J. Grinnell that he 

 had taken it at Catalina Island (Pub. 2, I'asadena Acad. Sci.. 1898. 12). This 

 is our most southern record. 



79. (165) Oidemia deglandi Bonaparte. White-winged Scoter. 

 Very common winter visitant along the coast and around the Santa Barbara 



Islands. Arrives in September and October and leaves mostly in April. Non- 

 breeding birds of this and the next species are plentiful on the ocean through- 

 out the summer. 



80. (166) Oidemia perspicillata (Linnaeus). Surf Scoter. 



Most abundant of the surf ducks. The majority of this species arrive 

 from the north in October and November and leave in April. I noted an adult 

 male at Santa Rosa Island, June 8, 1910. 



81. (167) Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmelin). Ruddy Duck. 



The little "wire-tail" is a common resident of southern California through- 

 out the year. It breeds in tule marshes from the middle of April until June. 

 I found a set of seven half-incubated eggs at Nigger Slough, Los Angeles 

 Count}, May 1. 1910, and another set of seventeen slightly incubated eggs, 

 in the same locality, June 2, following. Antonin Jay found a nest containing 

 an incomplete set of three eggs near Wilmington, Los Angeles County, fune 

 10. 1900. 



82. (169) Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus (Pallas). Lesser Snow Goose. 

 Common winter visitant to the lowlands, south to Lower California. Ar- 

 rives about the first part of October and leaves mostly in March and April. 



