Diick-sbooting 139 



have been in the early fall, and then generally in 

 the company of the greater scaup. 



The lesser broadbill breeds along the Yukon 

 and Anderson rivers and through the Arctic 

 regions north of Hudson Bay. The nest has 

 been taken as far south as Dakota. Marshes and 

 swamps of the fresh-water lakes close to the coast 

 are the favorite resorts in the North. The nest is 

 constructed in a rude manner of grass and rushes 

 well lined with down. Early July is the breeding- 

 time. According to MacFarlane, the male bird is 

 found with its mate well along in the period of 

 incubation. Early in October the first flocks 

 appear within our boundary, and by November 

 they are common throughout the West and along 

 the southern coast. The lesser broadbill possesses 

 all the habits of its near relative, but is found more 

 often on the shallow bays and in smaller bodies of 

 water. They come well to decoys and are occa- 

 sionally baited by grain scattered on their feeding- 

 ground. If these ducks have fed undisturbed for 

 a short time under such circumstances, they 

 return so persistently to the spot that a large 

 proportion of the flock are killed. Curiosity, a 

 trait associated with disaster, is not wanting in 

 both varieties of broadbill. If the situation favors, 

 a red flag is gently waved from a place of conceal- 

 ment. The flock at once notices it, the birds 

 become restless, soon one or two swim near, 



