BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 61 



crustaceans than is that of the others, and they are a little 

 more shy and suspicious. Its presence here through the sea- 

 son of reproduction, although by no means abundant, indeed I 

 may say rare, shows beyond question that it breeds here to 

 some extent at least, but to what is only conjecture until their 

 differentiation from the other species is more thoroughly un- 

 derstood. Persons entitled to the highest confidence by their 

 integrity have expressed themselves certain that they have re- 

 peatedly seen the female and young in the marshes in July, 

 but science wants a "certainty" which is more certainly as- 

 sured than that. Dr. Coues tells us in his Birds of the North- 

 west, that he found them ' 'breeding along the upper Missouri 

 and Milk river." at least which "appeared to be of this species, 

 as were the several specimens examined." Their presence 

 there would by no consideration justify an assumption that 

 they most likely breed here, for there is a marked difference in 

 the climate of the two localities. 



Comparatively few of those persons who have taken pains to 

 report local observations of the water birds of the State, have 

 recognized the species definitely, but Mr. Washburn has as fol- 

 lows: "^ affinis, or Little Black-head, appears to be by far 

 the more numerous representative of the family Fuliginae in 

 the fall. I found them very numerous indeed at Dead lake be- 

 tween October 10th and 20th. Many were shot, varying some- 

 what in size and coloration, none measuring over 17.25, and one 

 16. There colors too, varying from brownish-black to jet-black, 

 and specimens that were but little marked, to those having 

 much wavy black in fine lines on back and sides. Undoubtedly 

 there are intermediate examples between Afflnis and Marila. 

 This subject, and the study of hybridism among Anatidas and 

 Fuliginse, I trust I shall be able to investigate in the future. 

 October 11th an adult female affinis secured in Otter Tail 

 county,' measured 16.50, 7.50, 2.50; and another from the same 

 place measured 17.25, 7.75. 8." 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill blue; nail black; head, neck, forepart of breast, back 

 anterior to shoulder, lower part of back, tail and its coverts, 

 black; head with violet-purple reflections, changing occasion- 

 ally to green; belly and sides, with axillaries. and central por- 

 tion of inner surfaces of wings pure white; lower part of belly 

 near anus, undulated finely wnth black spots; inter scapular 

 region and scapulars white, with transverse zigzag bands or 

 lines of black which are much further apart in the scapulars, 



