1910 ] Ferry, Summer Birds of Saskatchewan. 193 



13. Chaulelasmus streperas. Gadwall. — Common at Prince Albert; 

 abundant at Quill Lake; probably the most abundant duck in the latter 

 vicinity. Many nests were found. They were situated practically always 

 upon islands in the long grass or among the weed stalks growing there. 

 Often the nests were in patches of dead weeds; they were made exclu- 

 sively of the finer weed stalks and the dead, cottony flowers. Only 

 occasionally were some of the bird's own feathers used. This species often 

 nested in close proximity to nests of the Baldpate and Pintail. The eggs 

 of the Baldpate and Gadwall closely resemble each other. In two cases 

 eggs of the Lesser Scaup Duck were found in Gadwall's nests. This spe- 

 cies is a late nester, fresh eggs being first found in complete sets on June 

 24. A nest with young just pipping the shell was found on July 31. 

 Many broods were seen in sloughs up to August 9. A nest with seven 

 fresh eggs was foimd on July 4. 



14. Mareca americana. Baldpate. — Not common at Prince Albert. 

 Abundant at Quill Lake. In nesting habits much like the Gadwall, though 

 the Baldpate nests earlier. The first complete sets were found on June 

 12; the number of eggs laid ranged from nine to twelve. On July 5 a 

 brood of three, a little smaller than Teal, were seen in company of the 

 female parent. 



15. Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. — Not common at 

 Prince Albert or Quill Lake. A nest containing nine fresh eggs was found 

 at Prince Albert on June 3. 



16. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. — This was one of the 

 most abundant ducks at Prince Albert, but was not nearly so common at 

 Quill Lake. Three nests were found at Prince Albert; May 31, with five 

 fresh eggs, and June 7, are two of the dates. 



At QuiU Lake a nest was found on June 16 containing four fresh eggs. 

 Later they were destroyed by the guUs. 



17. Spatula clypeata. Shoveller.— This duck was abundant all 

 through the portion of Saskatchewan which we travelled. The nests were 

 next to impossible to find and we discovered but one. Mr. Barnes's notes 

 read as follows: "June 20, in the midst of a tremendous rain storm, I 

 stumbled upon a nest of tliis species built on the ground at the forks of a 

 fallen and nearly limbless tree overgrown with brush. The bird flushed 

 under my feet so close that her wings struck me as she rose. The nest was 

 of gi-ass and contained very little down. The eggs were fresh." 



IS. Dafila acuta. Pintail. — We were successful in finding many 

 nests of tliis duck. It was abundant at both localities \'isited. The 

 birds nest in the long prairie grass, or at the edge of willow thickets, usually 

 close to water. At Quill Lake they showed a decided preference for 

 islands as nesting sites. They are generous in the supply of down used to 

 line their nests. Nests were found at Prince Albert as follows: May 25, 

 three nests; May 26, nine eggs, one-third incubated; May 27, three eggs, 

 one-half incubated; June 1, twelve eggs, two-tliirds incubated. At 

 Quill Lake, June 16, nine fresh eggs. 



