SEA DUCKS 101 



seen June 23, 1896. (Morrell); breeds about the ponds and streams of the 

 northern part of the county, (Knight). Waldo ; November to April, (Knight). 

 Washington ; common resident, (Boardman). 



This species is general along the coast from November until 

 late March or April. Inland it is summer resident in limited 

 numbers about various bodies of water in northern and eastern 

 Maine, while in places on streams where the water is very 

 rapid and does not freeze during the winter a few scattered 

 individuals occasionally may be found. The nest is placed in 

 holes in trees, usually near the water and six to twelve eggs 

 are laid on a thick warm bed of down. The eggs are a very 

 distinctive ashy green color. Twelve found May 29 were laid 

 in a cavity in an oak tree near the water, on the usual bed of 

 down from the breast of both male and female, judging from 

 its color and appearance. These eggs measured 2.31 x 1.63, 

 2.25 X 1.60, 2.31 x 1.59, 2.32 x 1.70, 2.26 x 1.73, 2.33 x 1.70, 

 2.33 X 1.62, 2.25 x 1.71, 2.26 x 1.71, 2.25 x 1.70, 2.36 x 1.60, 

 2.33 X 1.52. 



I have observed the newly hatched young with one or both 

 parents accompanying them on various bodies of water in very 

 late June or early July. The young swim quite deep in the 

 water and in a compact group very close at the side or slightly 

 in rear of the parent. Inland the food of the species consists 

 very largely of the so-called fresh-water clams ( Unionidce and 

 related species, formerly called Unios, but now scattered to the 

 twelve points of nomenclature by the modern iconoclausts). 



I have watched these birds fishing in the rapids and rips and 

 repeatedly emerging with the mollusks they had obtained by 

 diving. In such places they also eat a shiny vegetable substance 

 of undeterminable nature. They also eat the smaller fish fre- 

 quenting the region they call home and will not disdain trout 

 fry on occasion. Along the coast practically the only food I 

 have found in their stomachs consists of mussels and other mol- 

 lusks which they obtain by diving and swallow bodily, shell 

 and all. Their name of Whistler is derived from the whistling 



