Bird Life of North Dakota 21 



Devils and Stump lakes seem to be the most southern breeding grounds 

 of the species and the only region in the United States where nests have been 

 found. 



41. Brismatiira jamaicensis (Gmelin). Ruddy Duck. 



CouES, 1878, p. 654; common and breeding in suitable localities throughout the 

 region. At the Turtle Mountains it was nesting in numbers in the pools where the 

 young in late July and early August were still unable to fly. Several were taken 

 there, July 28 to 30 and August 7, 1873. Job, 1899, p. 164; in one slough on May 21, 

 1898, numerous ruddies in pairs were swimming among the reeds. Bent, 1902I, p. 

 172; found five nests of the ruddy duck in two sloughs in Steele County in June, 

 1901. JuDD, 1917, p. 9; very common; breed on all the big lakes, where they arrive 

 the latter part of April. 



There is a skin of an adult female in the Museum of Zoology Collection 

 taken June 25, 1900, at Sweetu^ater Lake, by Charles L. Cass, and there 

 are mounted specimens in several bird collections in North Dakota. 



Several individuals were seen at Stump Lake, July 24 and 25, 1920, and 

 a few at Lake Upsilon, Turtle Mountains, July 30, 1920. They were noted 

 at Devils Lake from May 5 to July 19, 192 1. 



42. Chen hyperhorciis hypcrhoreus (Pallas). Snow Goose. 



CouES, 1878, p. 649; abundant during migrations. In the fall none were seen 

 until October. Judd, 1891, p. 169; snow geese were most abundant after October 17, 

 iSoo. near Cando. CouES, 1893. P- 263 ; Lewis and Clark reported that a great number of 

 brant passed up the river, April 9, 1805, some of which were perfectly white except 

 the large wing feathers. (Coues says these were snow geese.) Judd, 1917, p. 9; 

 flocks of thousands are a common sight from the last week in March to May I and. 

 a few small flocks stay until June I. The big flight in the fall occurs about October 

 10, but some stay until the lakes freeze over. Bailey, 1920, p. 106; saw a snow goose 

 the last of September at Sweetwater Lake. 



I did not see this species alive. There is a mounted specimen in the 

 University of North Dakota Museum, taken at Devils Lake, and also one at 

 the Agricultural College. Another specimen was taken at Bismarck, Novem- 

 ber II, 192 1, by E. J. Erbe. 



43. Chen hypcrhoreus nivalis (J. R. Forster). Greater Snow Goose. 



Judd, 1917, p. 9; specimens whose size would apply to this subspecies are shot 

 at all times from the large flocks of the lesser snow goose. 



There is a specimen without data in the University of North Dakota 

 Museum. Another, taken at Grafton, April 13, 1907, was seen in the 

 Williams Collection. 



44. Chen cccrnlcsccns (Linnreus). Blue Goose. 



Judd, 1893, p. 382; on May 4, shot a blue goose near Cando, Towner County. 

 Judd, 1917, p. 9; rare in migration; one to four are usually seen in nearly every 

 large flock of snow geese. Freeman, 1919, p. n ; observed fairly often; date March 24. 



There is a specimen in the Agricultural College Museum collected at 

 Grafton, October 27, 191 3, by H. V. Williams. Another was taken from 

 a large flock at Grafton, March 30, 1906, by William Williams. 



