140 



MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



head appears abnormally large. The young and females are inconspicuous birds 

 with a faint white spot below and behind the eye. The small size of the Buffle- 

 head generally makes its recognition easy. 



62 [154] Harelda hyemalis (Linn.). 

 Old Squaw. 



Abundant winter visitor ; October 14 to May 22. 



The ocean in midwinter seems an appropriate place for this beautiful bird 

 with its snowy plumage, and here at this season off the Essex County coast, it is 

 always to be found. Occasionally they venture into the creeks, and during the 

 migrations they sometimes drop into the ponds. One of their favorite feeding 

 places is close to Lynn Beach. 



Throughout their stay here, both in the fall and in the spring, they are very 

 lively birds, frequently chasing each other on the water, the long tails of the 

 males being cocked up at an angle. This chase is sometimes pursued under 

 water, and I have seen them break the surface for a moment with outstretched 

 wing, which looked like the fin of a great fish. In diving, their wings are 

 slightly spread at the moment of their disappearance, and this and the observa- 

 tion just mentioned show that they use the wings for subaqueous flight. When 

 near the surf line they are constantly diving, remaining below water most of the 

 time. 



Their flight is veiy swift and direct, generally close to the water. When 

 alighting they plump into the water with a splash, sometimes skipping like a flat 

 stone before settling down, being carried along by the great impetus of their 

 flight. Their habit of " towering " or flying up in circles so high as to be scarcely 

 discernible has been described by Mr. Mackay 1 who says that he saw a flock of 

 several hundred in Ipswich Bay go up twice within an hour. They are gener- 

 ally in flocks by themselves, but the Red-breasted Mergansers may occasionally 

 be seen with them. 



The call notes of the Old Squaws are many and various, resembling, as H. 

 K. Job says, "the music of a pack of hounds on the trail." They are indeed a 

 garrulous set. They call both while flying and when on the water. 



Old Squaws in winter are easily recognized by the pointed black wings, the 

 long tails of the males, the black breasts, and particularly by the large amount of 



1 G. H. Mackay : Auk, vol. 9, p. 330, 1892. 



