GEEATEE BLUEBILL 335 



they are equal to most ducks as a table delicacy, 

 and even when forced to live upon the coarser 

 food from the salt water their flesh does not be- 

 come so rank as that of many other species 

 under like conditions. A report showing the 

 number of these birds which are served as can- 

 vasbacks would probably furnish some surpris- 

 ing statistics. 



Inhabiting the whole northern hemisphere, 

 and mostly breeding in the remote wastes of the 

 Arctic regions, the Greater Scaup Ducks, or 

 Greater Bluebills, pass the winter season in 

 warmer latitudes, wandering alongshore as far 

 as the Middle States and in the interior going 

 even farther toward warm weather. In the Old 

 World they winter in southern Europe and cen- 

 tral Asia. 



Their nests are made upon the ground in the 

 fashion common to the ducks, of moss and soft 

 grasses, and ordinarily contain eight grayish- 

 green or drab-colored eggs. They seldom 

 breed within the borders of the United States 

 and are not often found here earlier than the 

 latter half of October. 



Their table during the winter season is sup- 



