DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



61 



Nest. In hollow tree or hole in bank. Eggs : 9 to 14, grayish buff, 

 unusually rounded, for a duck. 



During migration the buffie-head is common and often abundant 

 over most of the western United States. It is a conspicuous little 

 duck, and the male is easily recognized by its small size, white sides, 

 and breast. The flocks generally keep out in the open water of 

 lakes and rivers, where they dive for their food, but are sometimes 

 surprised in small ponds or creeks in the shelter of grassy banks. 

 In fall they often remain till the last hole in the ice is closed up, 

 and in spring are back again close to the retreating ice. 



VERNON BAILEY. 



GENUS HARELDA. 



154. Harelda hyemalis (Linn.). OLD-SQUAW. 



A trim little duck with short bill; male with long 1 slender tail; head 

 not crested. Adult male in winter : head and fore parts to shoulders and 

 breast white, except for 

 patches of ashy and dusky 

 on side of head ; back, 

 middle tail feathers, and 

 breast black ; belly white 

 posteriorly, shading into 

 pearl gray on sides. Adult 

 male in summer: sooty, ex- 

 cept for white belly, ash 

 gray face, and white eye- 

 lids ; back and scapulars 

 streaked with chestnut. 

 Adult female in winter : tail 

 not lengthened ; head, 

 neck, and under parts 

 mainly white ; chest gray- 

 ish ; crown dusky, rest of upper parts dusky brown, the scapulars bor- 

 dered with lighter brown. Adult female in summer: head and neck 

 grayish brown, with whitish spaces around eye and on side of neck. 

 Young : similar to female in summer. Male : length 20.7523.00, wing 

 8.50-9.00, middle tail feathers 8.00-8.50, bill 1.10. Female: length 15-16, 

 wing 8-9, tail 8. 



Distribution. Northern part of northern hemisphere ; south in winter 

 nearly across the United States ; breeding from Labrador to Alaska. 



Nest. Usually on the grassy bank of a pond or stream, made of grass 

 and lined with down. Eggs : 5 to 9. 



The old-squaw, or long-tailed duck, is mainly a bird of the arctic 

 coasts, migrating sometimes entirely across the United States. 



Fig. 77. 



GENUS HISTRIONICUS. 



155. Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.). HARLEQUIN DUCK. 

 A small duck with moderate crest, short bill, and long sharp tail. 



