244 General Notes. I April 



Notes on the Habits of an Old-squaw ( Harelda hyemalis) and two 

 Lesser Scaup Ducks {Aythya affinis). — December 14, 1913, 1 found on a 

 a section of the lagoons of Jackson Park, Chicago, 111., a male Old-squaw 

 and two female Lesser Scaup Ducks after a change in the weather from 

 unusually warm and pleasant to cold with a brisk northeast wind. The 

 Old-squaw remained until December 28; the Scaups were last seen Decem- 

 ber 22 when ice had formed over a greater part of the lagoon. All of the 

 birds were tame, and continued about their affairs even when one was 

 standing on the shore, providing he remained quiet, thus affording an 

 unusual opportunity for observations on their habits. 



It was not possible to watch the birds continuously throughout a day's 

 time, but they were observed at varying intervals, which taken together 

 come close to constituting a day's time from daybreak to dark and it 

 was possible to check some observations by a few repeated periods. The 

 following account, therefore, should give a fair idea of their general be- 

 havior. 



The section of the lagoon on which they alighted is about 275 feet long 

 and 125 feet wide in its broadest portion, extending in an east and west 

 direction, at the east end opening on Lake Michigan and connecting on the 

 west with the long river-like chain of lagoons which traverse the greater 

 part of Jackson Park mainly from north to south. 



The following is a summary of my observations. The Old-squaw was a 

 quiet, totally silent bird, in contrast to the active Scaups, one of these 

 at least, being very noisy. In feeding, the Old-squaw remained in deep 

 water, never coming in so near shore as did the Scaups. The food, with 

 the possible exception of the algae about the piling, could not be ascer- 

 tained. Whatever it is, it would seem to be swallowed under water, 

 always in the case of the Old-squaw, and with only one exception in the 

 case of the Scaups. One of these was once seen to be engaged with food 

 of some sort on coming to the surface after diving. In all probability the 

 food was mainly animal. On January 13 an immense swarm of sluggish 

 minnows, extending nearly across the lagoon, was noted at the west bridge, 

 and these fish would have fallen an easy prey to an expert diver. That 

 the Old-squaw is more expert in diving than the Scaups is indicated by its 

 choice of the deeper water, and the much less time occupied in feeding. 

 The male Scaup which appeared December 27 was once seen to go in close 

 to shore where the water was too shallow for diving and feed by immersing 

 its head only. 



Whether the birds are active at night is an interesting question. Judging 

 by their quiet behavior at dusk and their alertness at dawn one would 

 eay so. 



Presumably the occurrence of the Old -squaw with the Scaups was 

 due to a gregarious instinct rather than to sexual attraction. In general 

 in the various activities the Scaups took the initiative, and paid little 

 attention to the Old-squaw, finding sufficient company in themselves, 

 while the Old-squaw followed them about through sheer loneliness. In 



