Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 519 



one of a flock of four), the other on Erie Bay. Mr. Bacon records 

 the species as an irregular migrant and winter resident, and adds : "I 

 have never seen this bird alive, but nearly all the older generation of 

 sjiortsmen have killed one or two specimens. On December 21, 1900, 

 a flock of seven appeared at the eastern end of the bay, three of which 

 were shot by Mr. Frank Claus, from whom I secured them. On 

 January 8, T901, another specimen was killed by Mr. Claus, which 

 likewise came into my possession. Other examples have since been 

 brought me, taken on March 13 and 26, 1902, January i and 2, and 

 December 5, 1903. On October 23, 1903, I examined five specimens 

 that were killed on the bay — my earliest fall date. ' ' Most of the 

 above dates are represented by specimens in the Carnegie Museum. 

 There appear to be no other records for the occurrence of this duck 

 so far north in winter. Its favorite food, the wild celery ( Vallisneria 

 spiralis) grows in the bay at certain places, so that it would naturally 

 be expected to occur regularly did other circumstances permit. 



31. Fuligula marila. Greater Scaup Duck. 



This duck was not distinguished from the next species by the gun- 

 ners, both being known as ''Blue-bills." Moreover, owing to the 

 difficulty of discriminating the two forms in life, little can be said 

 definitely of the present species, more than that in the spring of 1900 

 it certainly constituted a portion of the flocks of Scaups during the 

 earlier part of the season. Specimens were secured on March 29 and 

 April 13, that taken on the latter date being a male in full plumage. 

 Bevond stating that it was evidently much less common than the Lesser 

 Scaup, it is impossible to indicate the relative abundance of the two 

 species. In the fall none were noted until November 8, and speci- 

 mens were examined which were killed on November 14 and 15. Mr. 

 Simpson reports the species on November 20, 1902, and April 14, 

 1903, having taken two specimens on each date. Mr. Bacon's notes, 

 however, are of special interest in that they are supplementary to those 

 just presented, tending to show that the seasonal status of this duck is 

 about the same as that of the Canvas-back. " Although I feel sure that 

 the present species is never found here in any great numbers, it prob- 

 ably occurs regularly during the migrations and through the winter. 

 ... I have occasionally seen one in the markets, and have secured 

 specimens from local gunners taken on the following dates : December 

 10, 13, and 27, 1902, and January 5, 1903," all of which are at 

 present in the Carnegie Museum. 



