476 THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA — THOMPSON. 



There have been times when it was the necessity for food that led 

 me where I have observed such scenes as that described, but I can say 

 truly that each time the brave mother was allowed to go in peace and 

 the hunt was prolonged until another though perhaps a less palatable 

 victim was found and sacrificed. 



They arrive early in April, frequently before the lakes or large sloughs are free 

 from ice, resorting to the wet prairies and stubble-fields; the great bullc are paired 

 when they reach here and they soon commence nesting, their nests being made in all 

 Borts of places. I have found them in the marshy sloughs on the open prairie, near 

 water usually, and once in the bush at least a half a mile from a very small stream 

 that always dried up during the summer, but which was the only water for a long 

 distance. 



About the middle of May the females commence to set; the drakes then molt, los- 

 ing their brilliant plumage; whilst undergoing this change they gather together into 

 small flocks of about five or six and hide themselves in the rushes, from which it is 

 very hard to dislodge them even with good dogs. 



In September they gather into flocks, young and old together,and visit the wheat and 

 barley stubbles, rapidly becoming fat; the drakes at this time begin to show the 

 green feathers on their heads, and by the time they leave they have acquired their 

 perfect plumage. 



A few frequently remain for some little time after the snow has covered the ground; 

 these I have seen feeding around the base of the stacks and resorting to Lake Mani- 

 toba for water ; in 1885 they were abundant up to November 9, but left on the day, 

 after, for on the 11th I saw the last of the season, a single bird only. 



On the 15th of September, 18-^2, I shot a large drake, which had pure white pinion 

 feathers and a broad band of white from the usual ring around the neck to the breast ; 

 this bird was with seven others, all of the usual color and size. (Nash, in MSS.) 



23. Anas obscura. Black Duck. Dusky Duck. 



Very rare summer resident. Winnip^^g : Summer resident; rare ; only 

 two specimens in 10 years, one at Loug Lake, one at Lake Winnipeg 

 (Hine). Eed River Valley : Very rare; Manitoba is their most western 

 limit (Hunter). I have received a specimen and seen others from York 

 Factory (Blakiston), 



24. Anas strepera. Gadwall. Gray Duck. 



Rare summer resident; abundant throughout the region along the 

 Boundary from Pembina to the Rockies; breeds (Coues). Winnipeg: 

 Summer resident; tolerably common (Hine). Red River Valley : Sum- 

 mer resident ; tolerably common at Lake Manitoba .(Hunter). Breeding 

 on Shoal Lake (D. Gunn). Only one specimen shot on the Assiniboine, 

 September, 1881 (Macoun). Portage la Prairie : Rare ; have shot a few 

 in the autumn near Lake Manitoba (Nash). Qu'Appelle: Common 

 summer resident ; breeds; April 20 (Guernsey). 



25. Anas americana. Baldpate, or Widgeon. 



Tolerably common summer resident ; abundant throughout theregion 

 along the boundary from Pembina to the Rockies; breeds (Coues). 

 .Duflferin : Arrived between April 20 and 25 (Dawson). Winnipeg: Sum- 



