484 THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA THOMPSON. 



41. Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. 



This bird will probably be foimd ia Manitoba, as it has been recorded 

 from near Hudson's Bay (Hatchins). Breeds in British America; 

 * * * throughout Illinois in winter, and has been taken at St. Louis, 

 Missouri (Cooke). Breeding in the Rocky Mountains, near the boun- 

 dary (Coues). 



Pow is tic on sheep ; two specimens, both drakes, etc. * * * These birds are 

 found in small rivulets, seldom in large rivers, about 90 miles inland. They migrate 

 to the southward with the geese ; feed on grass and small worms at the bottom of 

 the creeks; have a whistling note; they build their nests in the grass, and lay ten or 

 more eggs, resembling those of a pigeon in size and color. The name ia the Algon- 

 quin language implies a species of ducks that frequent the waterfalls or cataracts. 

 The young brood are very prettily speckled. (Hutchius MSS. Obs. H. Bay, 1782.) 



42. Oidemia americana. American Black Scoter. 



Rare ; migrant. Winnipeg: Transient visitor; rare (Hine). Swampy 

 Island: " Black Duck," 1885, first seen, four, on May 19 ; next and last 

 seen on May 20 ; is rare here and does not breed (Plunkett). Trout 

 Lake (Murray). 



43. Oidemia deglandi. White-winged Scoter. 



Rare ; migrant; possibly breeding. Winnipeg: Summer resident; tol- 

 erably common; Lake Winnipeg (Hine). Red River Valley : Tran- 

 sient visitor; tolerably common on rocky localities (Hunter). Occurs 

 between Hudson's Bay and Lake Winnipeg (Murray). Near Russell, 

 July 6, 1882 ; Bitter Lake, Washington, shot a velvet scoter, female; 

 length 20, extension 36 ; all over dusky ; bill gray ; a light patch near 

 bill and one behind eye ; secondaries white ; legs dull reddish ; appar- 

 ently breeding (Thompson). Qu'Appeile : Common; migrant; May 1 

 (Guernsey). Trout Lake Station ; Severn House (Murray). 



44. Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Duck or Surf Scoter. 



Uncommon; migrant; common at Lake Winnipeg (Hine). Qu'Ap- 

 peile: Rare migrant; May 1 (Guernsey). Red River Valley : Tolerably 

 common; transient visitor; abundant (Hunter). A specimen from 

 Nelson River in the Smithsonian Institution (Blakiston). 



45. Erismatura rubida. Ruddy Duck. 



Summer resident ; breeding ; common and breeding in suitable places 

 throughout the region along the boundary ; at Turtle Mountain nesting 

 in numbers in the pools (Coues). Winnipeg : At few are seen each year 

 about Long Lake when it breeds; also Lake Winnipeg, and at Shoal 

 Lake (Hine). The Ruddy Duck is sometimes found in swamps near the 

 Red River, but they are more numerous at Shoal Lake and Mani- 

 toba (D. Gunn). Portage la Prairie : Shot a female here September 10, 

 1884; she was with two buftle-heads at the time (Nash). Seen at 



