Bird Notes from Itasca County 109 



the writer could find no evidence of the presence of the green- 

 winged teal, in spite of the number of hunters interviewed. 



14. Shoveller — Spatula clypeata (Linn.) 



Found only during the migrations, and then in not very great 

 numbers. At Ely the writer found a mounted specimen of a full 

 plumaged male, shot in Itasca county in the early fall (sometime 

 during September) of 1917. 



15. Pintail — Dafila acuta (Linn.) 



Another species which is a migrant only. It seems likely that 

 this duck bred within the county up to about five years ago, but 

 the writer found no sign of its presence during his stay. 



16. Wood Duck — Aix sponsa (Linn.) 



A migrant only, so far as data at hand iindicate. It is not 

 unlikely, however, that the bird still breeds in some of the more 

 heavily timbered regions. A mounted specimen at Ely, of a female 

 in good plumage, was labeled " Itasca County, July, 1916." 



17. Greater Bluebill — Marila mariXa (Linn.) 



A migrant only, more common, apparently, in the fall than 

 in the spring. 



18. Lesser Bluebill — Marila afflnis (Eyt.) 



Probably by far the most abundant of the migrant ducks. 

 Strangely enough, the hunters of the region distinguish very 

 clearly between this and the foregoing species. It is possible that 

 the species still breeds within the county, as it did formerly, but 

 in small numbers. Known locally as " blackheads." 



19. Golden-eye — Clangula clangula americana Bonap. 



A migrant only, quite common for a short period of time on 

 both migrations, and among the last to go in the fall and the first 

 to return in the spring. 



20. Bufflehead — Cliaritonctta areola (Linn.) 



A migrant only, and neither very common; not found in any 

 considerable numbers. Known locally as the " butterball." 



21. Canada Goose — Branta canadensis canadensis (Linn.) 



Now a migrant only. Formerly a breeding species. With the 

 opening up of the country, and the arrival of numei-ous homestead 

 ers, the goose has been driven from its old breeding grounds in 

 this county, as it has 'in most parts of Wisconsin and Michigan. 

 Bred near Marble Lake as recently as the summer of 1915. 



22. American Bittern — Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.) 



Quite a common breeding species in the low, swampy regions, 

 but only in the more open — and consequently often the more set- 

 tled — regions. Seen several times near the Prairie River and 

 Lawrence Lake. A young bittern, but recently out of the nest, 

 was seen from the machine on August 3d, as we drove over the 

 bridge crossing one end of Long Lake. 



