G24 ORNIXnOLOGY. 



Spatula clypeata. 



Sliov'oKcr. 



Ana.i cli/pcata, LiNN., Syst. Nat., I, 17G0, 200. 



Spatulii clypeata, IJoiK, I.sis, 1.Sl'2, 5!il.— I>aiuu, IJinls N. Am., 1858,781; Cat. N. 



Am. Binl.s, 1.S.59, No. 583.— Coues, Key. 1872, 288; (JUeck List, 1873, No. 498; 



Birds N.W., 1874, 570.— IIensUaw, 1875, 478. 



Common at Pyramid Luke in May 



AlX SPONSA. 

 ^'ooil Diick. 



Aiiax spoma, LiNN., Syst. Nat., I, 17(Jli, 207. 



AU- spoimi, BoiE, Isis, 1820, 329. — BAlilD, Birds N. Am., 1858, 785; Cat. N. Am. 



Birds, 1859, No. 587.— CouES, Key, 1872, 288; Check List, 1873, No. 499; 



Birds N. W., 1874, 571. 



One pair of this superb Duck was seen in July, among the cotton- 

 woods of the Truckee. 



Aythya americ<\.na. 



Red-licad. 



FuUgida amcricana, Eyton, Monograph Auatidte, 1838, 155. 



Aythya americana, Bonap., Comp. lletid., 1850, — .— Baird, Birds N. Am., 1858, 



793; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 1859, No. 591. 

 Aythya ferina var. americana, Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Ill, 1872, 183. 

 Fuliyula ferinu var. americana, CoUES, Key, 1872, 289; Check Li.st, 1873, No. 



503 ; Birds N.W., 1874, 575.— Qensuaw, 1875, 480. 



In winter this is an abundant species on the lakes of the Great Basin. 

 It and the succeeding species are frequently used by the Paiute Indians in 

 making very artistic and elaborate decoys, which have a body of bent and 

 twisted dry tules (Scirpus), with the skin stretched over it, the head prepared 

 and poised in a style equal to that of the most accomplished taxidermist. 

 The floafhig decoy is anchored by a stone tied to n string, the other end of 

 which is fastened to the bill. 



