108 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 113 



6. Black Tern — Clidonias nigra surinamensis Linn. 



A common breeding species about all of the larger lakes. 

 Found throughout the county on nearly every body of water, 

 though never in large numbers. The remnants of recently used 

 nests were found among the rushes near the shore. Food consists 

 largely of the common minnow of the region, Semotilus atroma- 

 culatiis, together with small perch, and pickerel up to two Inches 

 in length. 



7. American Merganser — Mergus cnnericcmus (Cass.) 



Common during the migrations, and from what information 

 came to hand, probably formerly a breeding species. None was 

 seen. 



8. Red-breasted Merganser — Mergus serrator (Linn.) 



Very likely a breeding species. Several individuals were re- 

 ported by Mr. Dwigans in early August, and a pair is said to have 

 bred at the south end of Lake Minnewanka. Formally more com- 

 mon. This is the common "fish duck" and "saw-bill" of the county. 



9. Hooded Merganser — Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.) 



None of these birds was seen, but the described presence of 

 a fish duck with a white triangle in its head makes it clear that 

 the species is at least a migratory one. 



10. Mallard — Anas platyrJiynchos Linn. 



A common breeding species. Breeds throughout the county 

 about the less frequented lakes affording shelter and food. The 

 abundance of wild rice (Zizania palustris) in certain of the shal- 

 lower lakes and even along the edges of the deeper lakes, affords 

 the necessary attraction. Marble Lake, nearly overgrown with 

 rice, was the breeding ground of a considerable number. Heard 

 frequently about Lake Minnewanka, to which they probably came 

 from Marble Lake. 



11. Black Duck — Anas ruhripes Brewster. 



Seen quite frequently, and usually in company with the mal- 

 lards. Breeds along with them near Marble Lake, and frequents 

 the wild rice and rushy, swampy shores of the undisturbed lakes. 

 Food is at present in untold abundance, and it is altogether sur- 

 prising that there are so few species of ducks breeding in the 

 county, and so few pairs of those that do breed. 



12. Baldplate — Mareca americana- (Gmel.) 



A migrant only, fairly common during both the spring and 

 fall migrations. 



13. Blue-winged Teal — Qncrqucdula discors (Linn.) 



Common as a migrant only. May still be a breeding species 

 in some parts of the county, but none was seen. Strangely enough, 



