66 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Rather more numerous than the preceding, being often .seen in 

 spring and fall in flocks of six or eight, fishing about the mouths of 

 the inlets in Hamilton Bay. 



This species is common to both continents, and breeds on the 

 rocky islets on many of the inland lochs in the north of Scotland. 

 All the young birds appear for the first season in the plumage of the 

 female, but the male can readily be distinguished by a peculiar bony 

 enlargement in the windpipe, which does not occur in the opposite 

 sex. 



It is said that in this, and in the preceding species, as soon as the 

 female has completed her set of eggs, the male has the ungallant 

 habit of ignoring all family responsibilities, and leaving the entire 

 care of the youngsters to their mother, who leads them carefully to 

 the water, and gives them their first lesson at a very early age. 



In Manitoba, Macoun says that the species " breeds on all the 

 northern streams and ponds, feeds largely on vegetable matter, and 

 is quite edible." 



In the fall they occur in small flocks along the southern bordei" of 

 Ontario, but none are observed to remain over the winter. 



Mr. Nelson says, regarding this species : " During the summer of 

 1881, I found them breeding upon St. Lawrence Island and along 

 the Siberian coast from Plover Bay to Cape North through Behring 

 Strait. On the Alaskan coast they breed everywhere in suitable 

 places, from Sitka to Icy Cape, and perhaps to Point Barrow." 



