WARM-WEATHER DIVERS. 53 
GENUS Charitonetta. 
Charttonetta albeola—BUFFLE-HEAD, BUTTER-BALL.— 
Habitat—United States, north to the British Posses- 
sions; south to the Gulf, West Indies and Mexico. 
The smallest of our ducks, especially so of the female, 
an insignificant looking bird compared with the drake, 
who ranks with our handsome ducks. 
The first issue of these birds appears in the interior 
above the frost line late in the spring, a short time 
before the bluewinged teals arrive; and with the ruddy 
ducks are the last of divers to travel northward. They 
soon depart to the far north, where they are followed 
by the second and third issues, which scatter over the 
country before they also follow the advanced flight. 
They are tame birds, allowing the hunter to walk or 
push up very close to them; preferring to swim from 
danger rather than fly, diving as they go. In the fall 
they pass through the interior in large flocks, keeping 
to open water upon large lakes; not being so com- 
monly dispersed over the country as in the spring. 
For food and nesting, see chart. 
Their clutch is from ten to twelve white, speckled 
slightly with brown, eggs. They vary in size more 
than any other ducks, except Affinis and Marila of the 
scaups. Length 13 to 15.00; wing 6.60; tarsus 1.20; 
extent 20 to 21.00; middle toe 1.70. 
