BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 89 



large numbers, and is less conunon north and east of Mary- 

 land and Virginia. Nevertheless, a large number of individ- 

 uals must normally choose a route from the northwestern 

 British provinces and Alaska to New York and New England. 

 Knight states that it occurs quite generally along the Maine 

 coast, but is rare inland; and Eaton finds it still a fairly 

 common migrant on the shores of Long Island and in western 

 New York. 



This species often attends the Canvas-back and the Red- 

 head. As it is rather a poor diver it watches these diving 

 Ducks, and as one comes up from the bottom with the wild 

 celery or other favorite root or bud in its bill, the Baldpate 

 snatches the morsel and makes off. It also feeds much upon 

 pond weeds and other water plants. It is very alert and 

 active, and when feeding it is said that its flocks are prone to 

 keep a sentinel on the watch. It is fond of seeds, the tender 

 shoots of plants, insects and small aquatic shell-fish and verte- 

 brates. It feeds in daylight if undisturbed; but where it is 

 much hunted it feeds mainly at night. In feeding it is not 

 confined strictly to fresh water but takes plants growing in 

 brackish or even salt water. It is fond of grain, and Audubon 

 says that it eats peas and earthworms, and that it often 

 alights in the cornfields. It walks well, is not noisy, and 

 would make a desirable bird for the game preserve could it be 

 artificially propagated. It has been bred successfully in con- 

 finement, but, so far as I am aware, this has been accom- 

 plished only on a very small scale. 



The Baldpate is perfectlj^ at home in this latitude and 

 responds quickly to protection. Since spring shooting was 

 prohibited in Massachusetts its numbers have been increas- 

 ing in some localities and Mr. Charles H. Brown informs me 

 that from five hundred to six hundred frequented Martha's 

 Vineyard in 1910-11, coming in November and remaining 

 until driven out bv the ice in Februarv. 



