^°'- jfo^['"] Bent, Nesting Habits of Anatida: i?i N. Dakota. 335 



Baldpates, and of a dull creamy white color, whiter and less creamy 

 than the Baldpates'. The down in the nest of the Gadwall is also 

 somewhat darker than in that of the Baldpate. But these differ- 

 ences are slight and variations bring the species very close 

 together, so that it is necessary to shoot the bird or have a clear 

 view of her to make indentification sure. 



The following figures are taken from the measurements of 21 eggs 

 in my collection: Length, 2.18 to 2.00; breadth, 1.59 to 1.52; 

 average, 2.08 by 1.55 inches. 



Mareca americana {Gmel.). Baldpate. 



In the vicinity of the larger lakes this is a very common species, 

 where it breeds abundantly on the islands with the foregoing 

 species. We found no less than 15 nests of this species on these 

 islands on June 15, and probably there were more nests which 

 we did not find, as it was raining very hard when we explored the 

 island where they were breeding most abundantly, so we made 

 only a hurried search of about half an hour, finding 12 nests in 

 this short time. The Baldpate is a late breeder, very few of the 

 eggs being laid before June i, and the majority of the sets are not 

 completed until the second week in June or later. The nests are 

 all built on dry ground in a slight hollow generally well lined with 

 bits of dry grass and weed stems, with a plentiful supply of light 

 gray down surrounding the eggs which increases in quantity as 

 incubation advances. The bird frequently covers the eggs with 

 the down when she leaves the nest, completely concealing them 

 and making the nest almost invisible even in an open situation. 

 The eggs, which are from 8 to 1 2 in number, are creamy white in 

 color, varying from deep cream to nearly white, and are in shape 

 nearly elliptical ovate. The shell is clear, smooth, rather thin 

 and somewhat glossy, resembling in color and texture certain 

 types of hen's eggs. The eggs closely resemble those of the Gad- 

 wall, but are generally more elongated and of a purer, deeper 

 cream color. The female Baldpate can also be distinguished 

 from the female Gadwall by its lighter color and whitish wing 

 patches. 



The description of a few types of nests of the Baldpate may be 

 of interest ; these were all found on the island referred to above. 



