1907 J Bent, Summer Birds of Southwestern Saskatchewan. 421 



nests which we were unable to identify, containing I, 8 and '.t eggs respec- 

 tively. The eggs greatly resembled Redheads' and the nests were prof usely 

 lined with white down, bul , as I he nests were built on dry ground, pari tally 

 concealed among coarse dead weeds, they may have belonged to this 

 species. No mergansers were seen in the vicinity whereas several Red- 

 heads were seen on the lake. According to my experience the Redhead 

 always builds its nest, in water in a, slough, but this may have been a 



departure from its usual custom. I regret exceedingly thai □ f the 



eggS Were collected. No birds of this species Were taken. 



14. Lophodytes cucullatus. Hooded Merganser.— Two young birds, 



identified by Mr. Eastgate as tin's species, were seen bill, nol, taken on the 



timbered portion of Maple ('reek on .June 30, L906. This region is not 

 well suited for i heir requirements and they were probably merely stragglers. 



15. Anas boschas. Mallard. — Uncommon, but frequently seen in 



pairs or singly at Various lakes and on nearly all of the creeks. 'The only 

 nests found, 7 in all, were on the island in Crane Lake, 5 nests on June 17, 

 1905, and one each on June L3, 1905, and June 23, 1906. 



1(>. Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. — Abundant, everywhere, the 

 commonest, of the ducks. We found in all 29 nests from June 10 to 17 

 in 1905 and on June 18 and 23 in L906. Most, of these nests were on the 

 islands in the lakes, but, some of them were on the meadows or prairies 

 which we found by flushing the birds as we drove along. Downy young 

 were taken on August •'!, L906. 



17. Mareca americana. Baldpate. Uncommon, but possibly com- 

 moner t ban we supposed, as it is difficult to distinguish, the female part ie- 



ularly, from the Gadwall. Frequently seen singly or in pairs on the 



creeks or in small pond holes, as well as on I he larger lakes. 



No nests were positively identified, but I am confident that we found 

 at least (> or 8 nests of this species, for they were certainly breeding on t he 



islands wit li I he ot her ducks. 



18. Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. — Rare. This species 



was undoubtedly breeding on the island in Crane bake with the other 

 ducks, as we saw them swimming in pairs in the little pond holes, and Mr. 

 Job feels sure that, he identified L! nests, as belonging to this species, which 

 we found here on June 17, 1905. Dr. Bishop also found and identified 2 

 nests of this species, shooting the female in each case, one in a meadow 

 near Hay Creek on July '.'> and one -i! Many Island Lake, on July '.», 1906, 

 on dry -round anions the bushes on a small island. 



19. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. — Abundant. Found 



breeding on I he islands and on t he meadows near t he lakes, Hi nests in all, 

 between June 13 and July '.). One or more pairs of Blue-winged Teals 

 were flushed from almost every little pond hole. Downy young were 

 found on August 2, 1906. 



20. Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. — Very rare or acci- 

 dental. I saw and think I positively identified a male of this species on 

 Hay Creek on June 1, 1905, and another at Crane Lake on June 17, 1905, 



