Birds of Indiana. 601 



Kange. — North America, from the Arctic Ocean south, in winter, 

 to Guatemala and Cuba. Breeds chiefly north of the United States; 

 occasionally breeding from Indiana and Minnesota north, and rarely 

 as far south as Texas. 



Nest, on ground in marshes. Eggs, 8-13; pale buff; 2.06 by 1.48. 



Common migrant, and rare summer resident in the northern part 

 of the State. 



In the southern part of the State they pass rapidly through during 

 the migrations. Sometimes the advance guard is seen as early as the 

 latter part of February, but generally they are not seen until the early 

 part to the middle of March. I have never observed it at Brookville 

 later than March 21 (1888). Prof. B. W. Evermann has noted it in 

 Vigo County as late as March 26 (1888). About the middle of March 

 they appear upon the rivers, lakes, and marshes of the northern part 

 of the State. Occasionally they are seen earlier. Mr. H. W. McBride 

 noted two in Dekalb Count}^ February 26, 1890. Mr. Ruthven Deane 

 informs me that the first Baldpate was shot at English Lake, March 15, 

 1886, and March 12, 1887. Generally they are seen in small flocks of 

 four to a dozen the latter part of March and until late in April, when 

 the 'greater number leave for the north. Mr. Deane noted a number 

 at English Lake May 4, 1890, and saw a male at the same place .May 

 10, 1891. It breeds in the northern part of the State. Mr. H. W. 

 McBride saw a female Widgeon with thirteen young Just hatched at 

 Hogback Lake, Steuben County, in May 1889. When he pursued her 

 in a boat all the young ones got on her back, and she swam away 

 with them. Mr. Euthven Deane writes me that a female Widgeon, 

 accompanied by thirteen young, was seen at English Lake the summer 

 of 1897. He thinks it was probably crippled, and unable to go farther 

 north. Most of them, however, breed farther northward, and return in 

 October, though quite a number were seen at English Lake, Septem- 

 ber 25, 1889 (Deane). Through October they are quite common, 

 passing southward at the end of the month or early in November. 

 The Baldpate is a good table duck, and is usually in good condition. 

 Therefore, it is esteemed by the sportsman. It is not a diver, like the 

 Canvasback. So it is said in water where wild celery abounds the 

 Baldpate awaits its rising with the choice root in its mouth, when it 

 rushes forward and seizes the celery for itself. Mr. E. E. Thompson 

 notes its breeding at Selkirk Settlements, Lake Manitoba, and Qu' 

 Appelle (Birds of Manitoba, p. 476). In Alaska it is not common, but 

 breeds in the marshy flats bordering Bering Sea (Nelson, Nat. His. 

 Coll. in Alaska, p. 68). 



