52 WARM-WEATHER DIVERS. 
and the Caribbean Sea; West Indies, especially Florida 
Coast and Jamaica in winter. The first issue of these 
odd, bull-necked looking ducks occurs after the win- 
ter has entirely broken up and the ice has gone. They 
are rarely seen during their migrations, traveling by 
night. Two issues are fairly well recognized. The 
third is scattering; some years they appear in num- 
bers, at other times are very scarce. Their flyways 
are (in the interior) up the Mississippi and its tribu- 
taries. During the fall migration they leave the 
boundary line in September, and the flight is com- 
posed of the second issue of the spring, the first fall 
issue being composed of local birds, for they breed all 
ever the United States. The last fall issue is from 
northern birds not hatched in the United States. 
They also migrate at night, suddenly appearing upon 
new grounds. 
Their feeding grounds are in the heavy weeds, and 
around the banks of ponds or lakes where they breed. 
Their roosting and play grounds are upon the same 
piece of water, generally roosting in the weeds and 
playing in the open places. 
Their food, the chart shows. 
During their winter sojourn South, they often col- 
lect in large flocks, especially in Florida and on the 
Rio Grande River; the tame rice fields in the extreme 
south are very favorite haunts for the paddy duck, the 
name it is locally called. 
Its clutch is from eight to ten large rough-shelled 
eggs of a dirty white color. Length 15.00; wing 5.80; 
tarsus 1.25; extent 24.00; middle toe 1.75. 
