1920 J General Notes. Z91 



The habits that characterize the two forms as they appear in autumn 

 in New England may be thus summed up: Anas rabripes tristis: Breeding 

 locally and often migrating as early as, or before, mid-September, or at 

 least "shifting ground" from inland nesting grounds to better feeding 

 grounds near coast. Feeding in both ponds and salt meadows, but if 

 in salt meadows resorting to fresh water once or twice a day. Much 

 less nocturnal in feeding habits than rubripes, because less shy, and much 

 less inclined to spend day on open ocean. Prefers good fresh water and 

 brackish water food, but spends the winters on the coast of New England 

 in small numbers, along with rubripes. Reaches great size at times. 

 Largest male 3 pounds 10 ounces; largest female 2 pounds 15 ounces 

 (Squibnocket, 1919). More difference in size between sexes than in 

 rubripes! Comes readily to live decoys, no matter how extreme the voice 

 may be (too high or too low) ; and is more loquacious than the red-legged 

 form. 



A. rubripes rubripes: Late migrant, never becomes localized except 

 near sea, and where marine food in the form of small mollusca is abundant. 

 Very seldom resorts to small ponds or bogs, but likes large open sheets of 

 fresh water near ocean, to which it often makes daily trips to drink and 

 rest, but not to feed. Is better able to sit off-shore in rough seas; and in 

 general appears a more rugged bird with heavier feathering and superior 

 resistance to extreme cold. In winter, it does not depend on ponds for 

 fresh water, but obtains a sufficient supply in small springs about salt 

 meadows at low tide. 



This is a much more wary bird, is more silent itself, and comes less 

 easily to live decoys, towards which it manifests an instinctive fear, es- 

 pecially if they be loud or shrill callers. In the salt meadows the best 

 gunners prefer sea-weed bunches or canvas sacs, and find the live decoys 

 useless, especially late in the season. 



When a flock of rubripes alights on a pond near a shooting stand, they 

 nearly always keep at a safe distance until perfectly satisfied of their 

 surroundings. Then, more often than not, they will swim away from the 

 stand and its live decoys. If they approach the stand, which they do 

 with the utmost caution, and with necks erect, they are not apt to keep 

 closely together as tristis does. 



Extreme weights not much above that of tristis. Heaviest male noted 

 by myself, 3 pounds 12 ounces. Average is a good deal heavier than 

 tristis, females perhaps more nearly size of males than in tristis, but no 

 figures at hand to bear out this point. — J. C. Phillips, Wenham, Mass. 



Flight of Water-fowl at Washington, D. C— On February 24, 1920, 

 an unusual flight of water-fowl, bound in a southerly direction and flying 

 at an altitude of probably one thousand feet, passed over Washington. 

 During the following three days we experienced the coldest weather of 

 the winter, the thermometer hovering about the 13 degree mark. 



