Bird Life of North Dakota 19 



31. Marila valisincria (Wilson). Canvas-back. 



CouES, 1878, p. 652; Turtle Mountains in July, 1873. Job, 1899, p. 164; eleven 

 pairs in one slough on May 21, 1898. Bent, 1902, PI. IV, Figs, i and 2; photographs 

 of nest, taken in Steele County, June 8. Bailey, 191 9, p. 189; saw a female with 

 nine nearly grown young on Sweetwater Lake, Ramsey County. 



There is a skin of a female in the Museum of Zoology Collection, taken 

 at Sweetwater Lake, September 14, 1900, by Charles L. Cass, and a set of 

 twenty eggs collected there by him, June 13, 1900. Another female in the 

 Museum of Zoology Collection was taken on May 18, 191 3, at Stump Lake, 

 by H. V. Williams. 



A few females were seen at Devils Lake in August, 1920, two broods at 

 Sweetwater Lake on July 18, 1920, and others at the ; Turtle Mountains, 

 August 5 and 7, 1920. 



It is rather a rare summer resident, breeding in the grass and rushes of 

 the water holes and coulees. It is considered superior to all other species 

 for food, but has l)een much over-rated, as it is no better than the redhead. 



32. Marila marila (Linnaeus). Scaup Duck. 



Job, 1899, p. 163 ; considerable numbers in a large, reedy slough not far from 

 Devils Lake in May and June. Judd, 1917, p. 8; a common migrant. 



The species was seen only rarely at Devils Lake in May, 192 1. 



^;^. Marila ajfinis (Jly ton). Lesser Scaup Duck. 



Bent, 1902, p. 165; the center of its abundance seems to be the Devils Lake 

 regioru but it was also found in Nelson and Steele counties. Judd, 1917, p. 8; first 

 nests found about June 15. 



A common summer resident, nesting in all the larger lakes and sloughs. 

 This duck was very common on Devils Lake in May and June, 1921, but the 

 only nest known to me was found near Bluebill Lake, Turtle Mountains, on 

 August 5, 1920. It was in a low meadow, a third of a mile from the water, 

 and contained eight eggs, nearly ready to hatch. 



34. Marila colldris (Donovan). Ring-necked Duck. 



CouES, 1878, p. 651; a specimen was seen in Dawson's Collection. Bent, 1902, 

 p. 167; Mr. Job found a nest of the ring-necked duck in the Turtle Mountains, June 

 14, 1898. Dr. Bishop flushed two or three ducks from their nests in Nelson County 

 in 1901, which he supposed to be ring-necked ducks, but none were taken. Judd, 

 1917, p. 8; one pair seen in Big Coulee. Found breeding in the Turtle Mountains. 



There is a mounted male in the Williams Collection taken at Grafton, 

 April 20, 1903. 



This is a rare summer resident. A pair was seen at Devils Lake, July 

 13, 1920. 



35. Clangula clangula aincricana Bonaparte. Goiden-eye. 



Bryant, 1894, p. 183 ; a nest of ten eggs and one of thirteen at Devils Lake in 

 1892. Both nests were in elm trees, one fifteen feet and the other twenty-five feet 

 from the ground. Job, 1899, p. 164; breeding in small colonies in the timJber region 

 of Devils Lake. Bent, 1902, p. 169; on June i, 1901, found five nests of the American 

 golden-eye in hollow trees at Devils Lake. Judd, 1917, p. 8; found it breeding in the 

 Turtle Mountains. 



