Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 507 



As a food bird it is very good, ranking in this respect with the but- 

 terball and the bluebill. It apparently feeds largely on vegetation 

 and the smaller mollusks. 



30. BUTTERBALL; BUFFLE-HEAD 



CHARITONETTA ALBEOLA (Linnseus) 



This pretty little duck is quite often seen in small flocks of 5 

 to 10, in spring, autumn and early winter. We have the following 

 spring records: 



In 1885, April 7, several seen in south end of the lake near the 

 Farrar cottage. The lake was then covered with ice except a nar- 

 row strip along the south shore. In 1901, March 22, two seen; 

 28th, a small flock on lake ; 31st, several good flocks on each lake. 

 April 6, one shot; llth, four shot, two of them females; 14th, a 

 pair noted off Shady Point. Our fall and winter records are as 

 follows: In 1900, November 9, two or 3 good-sized flocks seen; 

 20th, common, a hunter got one male and 4 females; 26th, a flock 

 seen near shore, a hunter got a female under the McSheehey pier ; 

 29th, a few seen; 30th, 15 to 20 seen. December 5, a large flock 

 noted off Long Point ; 10th, some near shore south of Shady Point ; 

 14th, a few drakes in splendid plumage; 28th, one drake and 3 

 ducks noted, uttering a strange quacking sound just before rising 

 to fly. In 1901, January 1, several huddled with bluebills and 

 coots in small open pools; 2d, several fine drakes in an open pool 

 near the Weedpatch, were first to leave when approached ; 3d, one 

 found dead on the ice, and one seen in an open pool. December 

 16, one caught on ice. In 1902, December 1, two got; 2d, one se- 

 cured ; 19th, one secured. In 1904, October 25, a pair in south end 

 of lake. November 5, one seen off Long Point; 12th, one shot; 

 14th, a flock flying; 16th, a pair collected; 19th, two seen on Lost 

 Lake, a hunter got one on Lost Lake and one at south end of Lake 

 Maxinkuckee. December 4, four noted east of Long Point; 5th, 

 several seen flying; llth, 8 seen in southeast part of lake. In 

 1907, September 10, a small flock seen ; 12th, 4 seen near the ice- 

 houses. November 1, a flock observed flying; 10th, one collected. 



This species seems to be most common in November and De- 

 cember, during which months small flocks or single individuals 

 may be seen on almost any day. When on the water they are most 

 often seen singly or in pairs. They come near shore to feed in 

 shallow water. Their food at the lake appears to consist chiefly 

 of small mollusks and vegetation and, to some extent, small fishes. 



In the winter of 1900-1901, when the lake was frozen over ex- 



