96 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



Mr, Board man formerly found this species nesting near 

 Calais, the only instance recorded for Maine. The evidence 

 now at hand indicates that it occurs chiefly along the coast 

 in fall migration, during October, and occasionally inland at 

 the same time. Under suitable conditions the species may be 

 locally frequent some seasons as reported by Mr. Noble. A 

 nest taken in Benson County, North Dakota, June 25, 1897, 

 was composed of dried bullrushes and much "marsh hay grass" 

 lined with down. It was supported among thick growing bull- 

 rushes with a depth of two and a half feet of water under the 

 nest. The female flew from it and performed the usual crippled 

 and other time tried antics intended to divert attention from 

 the nest to her. These eggs are a very characteristic creamy 

 white color and measure 2.40 x 1.69, 2.39 x 1.70, 2.40 x 1.71, 

 2.37 X 1.67, 2.31 x 1.70, 2.39 x 1.76, 2.36 x 1.73, 2.44 x 1.71, 

 2.45 X 1.70, 2.47 x 1.70, 2.29 x 1.67. Seven to fourteen eggs 

 are laid. My Dakota correspondent informs me that this species 

 very often lays eggs in the nest of the Canvas-back. 



The birds feed on tender aquatic plants, Vallisneria, etc., 

 also insects, frogs, tadpoles, marine surface swimmers in gen- 

 eral. They are often mistaken for and recorded as Canvas- 

 back Ducks from which they can readily be distinguished by 

 the quite diff*erent shaped or proportioned bills. 



/, 



147. Aythya vallisneria (Wils.). Canvas-back. 

 Plumage of adult male : head blackish on top, otherwise with neck reddish 

 brown ; chest, upper back, both tail coverts and lower rump black ; rest of 

 back finely barred with vermicular lines of black and white, the white lines 

 the wider ; belly white, barred with black below ; flanks white, lightly barred 

 with black or sometimes not barred. Plumage of adult female : cinnamon 

 on head, neck and upper breast and back ; the lighter throat and front of 

 head somewhat rufous tinged ; the grayish brown back and sides barred with 

 vermicular white lines ; belly white. Immature plumage similar. Wing 8.50 

 to 9.25 ; culmen 2.30 ; tarsus 1.60. The end of the more gradually tapering 

 bill more flattened, and only slightly hooked, being quite different appearing 

 from that of the Redhead. 



