Vol 1907 IV l Cameron, Birds of Custer & Davenport Counties, Mont. 249 



Teal was killed by striking against the wire cable of the ferry boat at 

 Terry. On May 18, 1905, in a ride down the Yellowstone from west side 

 of Fallon to Conlin (7 miles) four hundred and fifty ducks were examined 

 and counted through binoculars. Of these twelve were Gadwall, six 

 Widgeon, six Mallard, the remaining four hundred and twenty-six being 

 composed of Shovellers and Blue-winged Teal. 



18. Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. — Common, arriving about end of 

 March or beginning of April, associating with other ducks, chiefly Pintail, 

 Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal. Many remain all the summer and 

 frequent the unsheltered prairie ponds. I have seen them as late as the 

 middle of July in these exposed situations, when they are tame and unsus- 

 picious, but I have not found a nest. When a party of Shovellers are 

 feeding on a prairie lake the adult drakes have a curious habit of con- 

 stantly raising themselves in the water by balancing on their tails. 



19. Dafila acuta. Pintail. — Common but transient. According to 

 my records, kept since 1889, one of the commonest ducks on the spring 

 migration. Pintail never remain long, even when unmolested, and on 

 this account are seldom shot. While reported from most parts of both 

 counties they prefer alighting near the large streams, and Mr. J. H. Price 

 has never seen them in his locality (Knowlton). Terry flat is a favorite 

 resting place. On my return trip from the Missouri Brakes, in April, 1890, 

 when hosts of wild-fowl were seen, the Pintail outnumbered the others 

 and were numerous on the Powder River where I lived. 



I have several times seen a flock of these graceful ducks arrive at close 

 quarters. Although much larger than Green-winged Teal, their light 

 and graceful evolution resemble the latter, when, attracted by water, 

 they swoop down to it as if to settle, but again shoot upwards. If satisfied 

 that there is no danger they straggle into the pool, uttering a very soft 

 low quacking, and immediately on arrival begin washing, playing, feeding, 

 and walking about. 



Mr. J. Alex. Fraser (of Glendive) informs me that he saw about a thousand 

 migratory Pintails, in different bunches, on one day of September, 1906, 

 at Al. Stillson's ranch on Cow Creek, Dawson County, where some of these 

 ducks breed and are protected by the proprietor. 



20. Aythya americana. Redhead. — Not common. Occasionally ob- 

 served on Yellowstone; thirty seen September 26, 1903. Mr. J. H. Price 

 has twice seen Redheads on the smaller creeks. Mr. Dan Bowman has 

 seen them "once or twice." 



21. Aythya affinis. Lesser Scaup Duck. — Tolerably common. Scaup 

 are fond of frequenting the reservoirs of J. B. Kempton, near Terry, four 

 miles from Yellowstone. Twenty-three seen on Yellowstone May 7, 1905. 



22. Clangula clangula americana. American Golden-eye. — Not com- 

 mon. Occasionally seen on Yellowstone. Twelve haunted the vicinity 

 of the Fallon ferry for some weeks during October, 1903. Thirty observed 

 flying up Yellowstone September 26, 1904, and ten seen flying down 

 October 19, 1906. 



