1911 J Phillips, Migration of Anatidce in Massachusetts. 199 



from the coast. The presence of marine mollusks in the stomachs 

 of two Black Ducks, 2 Lesser Scaup and one Greater Scaup shows 

 where these birds had been feeding before visiting Wenham Lake. ' ' 



Mr. McAtee adds that he could make nothing out as to the point 

 of origin of these birds from their stomach contents, but thinks 

 that it is evident that they have come from a considerable distance 

 without stopping long to feed. The analyses in detail are as fol- 

 lows: 



" The contents of the Black Ducks' stomachs (29 in all, 4 empty) 

 was 88.4 per cent, vegetable, the principal items being seeds of 

 bur-reed (Spanganium), pondweed (Potamogcton) , bulrush (Scir- 

 pus), eel-grass (Zostcra) and mermaid weed (Proserpinaca), and 

 buds, rootstocks, etc., of wild celery. The animal matter, amount- 

 ing to 11.6 percent., included, in the order of importance, snails, 

 ants, chironomid larvae, bivalves, Crustacea, and insects. The 

 percentage of mineral matter of the gross contents was 36.5. 



"The Geese had eaten vegetation entirely, including grass, eel 

 grass, and algse. Six of the 9 gizzards were nearly empty, and 

 the mineral matter was 68.33 per cent of the gross contents. 



" The Widgeons were entirely vegetarian also, consuming pond 

 weed, wild celery, water-lily seeds (Brasenia), bur-reed, and smart- 

 weed seeds {Polygonum hydropipcr). Mineral matter, 65 per 

 cent. 



" Three of the 5 Greater Scaup stomachs were empty; the others 

 held animal and vegetable matter in equal proportions, the items 

 being bur-reed, pondweed, and bivalves (Gemma gemma). Three 

 of the four Lesser Scaups were almost without food, the objects se- 

 cured being seeds of bur reed, bayberry, and saw-grass {Cladium 

 effusum), and snails (Lunatia hews), and ants. 



" The three Mallards had full stomachs. Ninety -seven per cent 

 of the food was vegetable, including seeds of bayberry, saw-grass 

 bulrush, mermaid weed, and pondweed, seeds and plants of Naias 

 flexilis, and buds, roots, etc., of wild celery. Their animal food 

 included a dragonfly nymph, chironomid and caddis larva?, Crus- 

 tacea, and snails. 



"Six of the 10 Ruddy Duck stomachs were empty or nearly so. 

 The food was 40 per cent vegetable and 60 per cent animal; 

 gravel, etc., 50 per cent. Seeds of bur-reed, pondweed, bulrush, 



