SKA 



A more northern species than the preceding, which it resembles in 

 habits. 



153. Charitonetta albeola Lin i.). Hi KFLEHEAD; BUTTER-BALL; 

 SPIRIT DUCK. Ad. 6. A broad white bund passes around the back of the 

 head from eye to eye ; rest of the head, upper neck, and throat beautifully 

 glossed with purple, greenish, and bluish ; lower neck all around, breast, belly, 

 win:: coverts, speculum, and outer scapulars white; buck black; upper tail- 



and tail ashy-grayish. -!</. 9 .A white patch on either side of the 

 head, throat, and entire upper parts fuscous-brown; speculum, biva.-t, and 

 belly white. L., HT-'i; \\ ., -30; Tar., 1^:.; I!., L-06. 



ie. North America; breeds from Iowa and Maine northward; win- 

 tore from near the southern limit of its breeding range to the West Indies and 

 ' 



Washington, common W. V., Sept to Apl. Long Island, common T. V. 

 and W. V., (Jet 1 to Apl. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. Cambridge, 

 common in Oct. and Nov. 



Ktxl, in a stump or hollow tree. Eyys, six to twelve, dull light bull', 

 1-98 x 1-46 (Ridgw. >. 



This small Duck has won deserved distinction through its powers 

 as a diver. Like the Grebes, it "dives at the flash," though this well- 

 worn expression has lost half its meaning since flintlocks and percus- 

 sion caps have become things of the past. The Bufllohead feeds to 

 some extent on small fish, which it pursues and catches under water. 



154. Clangnla hyemalis < Linn.\ Oi.n SQI-AW; OLD WIFE: S..i TH 

 SorriiERr.Y. Ail. 6 in winter. Sides of the front of the head washed with 

 grayish brown; sides of the back of the head and sides of the upper neck 

 black, more or less margined with ochraceous; rest of the head, neck all 

 around, upper back, scapulars, and lower belly white ; back, breast, and 

 upper belly black; tail pointed, the middle feathers very long and narrow; 

 band across the end of the bill yellowish ornnpe. Ad. i !n .*>t>m/r. Sides 

 of the front of the head white ; crest of the head, neck, throat, breast, and 

 upper belly black; back and scapulars black, the latter margined with "lark 

 buffy ochrnceous; lower belly white; tail and bill ns in the preceding. 9 in 

 irint'-r. Upper parts black or fuscous; scapulars and upper back more or 

 less margined with grayish or grayish brown ; sides of the head and neck 

 and sometimes the back of the neck white or whitish ; breast grayish ; belly 

 white; tail pointed, but without the Ion-.' feathers of the male; under wine- 

 coverts dark. Ad. 9 in summer. Generally similar to the above, but the 

 sides of the head and throat mostly blackish, and the feathers of the upper 

 ports more or less margined with ochraceous. L., $ , 21-00, 9 , 16-00 ; W., 8-60 ; 

 T., 5,8-00, 9,2-50; B., 1-05. 



Remarks. The male Old Squaw is too distinct to be confused with any 

 other species, its long tail-feathers bein>.r its most striking character: the 

 female bears some resemblance to the female of the Harlequin Duck, but has 

 the belly pure white instead of grayish dusky. 



