278 BAY, SEA OR DIVING DUCKS 



mal and vegetable food consumed by the Buffle-head are approximately 

 the same as those taken by the closely related Golden-eyes. The little 

 Buffle-head is another of those ducks which gorge themselves on the 

 maggoty flesh of rotting salmon in rivers of the Pacific coast. 



In the spring the little Buffle-head, though a hardy bird, is a late 

 migrant and gradually follows the retreat of winter. It moves north 

 just ahead of the Blue-winged Teal and, with the Ruddy Duck, is the 

 last of the Diving Duck group to start the spring migration. The main 

 summer breeding grounds lie in the wooded region north and west of the 

 Canadian prairies, where it congregates in comparative abundance. In 

 the autumn, contrary to its practice in the spring, it is a late migrant, 

 demonstrating its reputation for hardiness by remaining until driven 

 forth by the cold of approaching winter. It moves south with the hardier 

 winter ducks late in October and November. In winter it remains as 

 close to the frost line as it can find open water in the interior, and on 

 the coasts is to be found as far north as the New England States and 

 British Columbia where it usually occurs in little flocks of 10 to 50 in- 

 dividuals. 



