190 WATER FOWL. 



in Iceland and other parts of Northern Europe, also on 

 the lower Anderson River, on the Barren Grounds, and 

 on small islands in the bays on the Arctic coast. 

 The number of eggs varies from five to seven, and they 

 are always covered by the down plucked from the breast 

 of the female. 



This species does not seem to visit our Western coast, 

 south of Alaska, but in its migration trends to the 

 eastward, and enters our limits east of the Mississippi 

 River. While it cannot be at all classed with the 

 fresh-water Ducks, it is abundant at times on some of the 

 larger Western lakes, making its appearance toward 

 the last of October, about the time when all the smaller 

 lakes and streams are frozen. It is fond of the sea, and 

 is frequently seen in flocks off shore just beyond the line 

 of breakers that hurl their white crests along the beach, 

 rising and falling with the waves, or diving into the 

 depths in search of food, or flying up and down parallel 

 with the land, now disappearing between the billows in 

 the trough of the waves, again rising above their crests, 

 the flocks speeding on in long drawn out lines. The 

 flight of this Duck is exceedingly rapid, indeed it may be 

 regarded as among the swiftest of the tribe, and its 

 powers of diving are excelled by none. It is so expert 

 at this, and disappears from view so instantaneously and 

 with so little effort, that it is next to impossible to kill it 

 when on the water, the bird vanishing before the shot 

 can reach it. 



When the water is calm, and the sun has gained a cer- 

 tain amount of power as it returns on its northern jour- 

 ney from below the equator, the Old Squaws gather 

 together in small parties on the open water of the sounds 

 away from land, or on the bosom of the ocean, a gun- 

 shot or so from shore, and sleep or dress their feathers, 



