594 EEPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



winters, and always attracted to the open water, so that in the most 

 severe winters they are most to be observed on the rapid stream? of 

 southern Indiana, where ripples and rapids are about the only places 

 they can find at which to congregate. Perhaps they are most nu- 

 merous on Lake Michigan at this season, but at English Lake, Ind., 

 and other large lakes they remain until the water freezes over. In the 

 latter part of February in some years, and always by early March, their 

 numbers begin to increase, and the spring migration has begun. They 

 pass northward rapidly, and most of them are gone by the latter part 

 of March. But few records are made for April, except in breeding 

 localities; occasionally, however, there are belated migrants noted as 

 late as May. Through April they pair and seek a home. 



They breed in suitable localities throughout the State. Owing to 

 the scarcity of such localities in southern Indiana but few have been 

 reported from that section. Mr. Robert Eidgway found them more 

 numerous than the Wood Duck, and breeding in hollow trees, in Mon- 

 teur's Pond, Knox County, in the spring of 1881 (Bull. Nutt. Orn. 

 Club., Vol.. VII, Jan. 1, 1882, p. 22). I feel quite confident that it 

 formerly bred in a swamp in which there was much timber, on the 

 west fork of Whitewater River, about four miles from Brookville. 

 Prof. B. W. Evermann, in 1888, informed me of its breeding in Vigo 

 County, and the same authority notes its breeding in Carroll County, 

 where he saw young in July (The Auk, October, 1888, p. 346). Mr. 

 F. E. Bell informs me of its breeding in Wabash County. Mr. C. E. 

 Aiken says it breeds commonly on the Kankakee River, and Mr. J. G-. 

 Parker, Jr., has recently written me that quite a few breed on that 

 river in the vicinity of Kouts, Ind. 



The migrants return in October and November, and linger as long 

 as the waters are open and food is abundant. The first "freeze up" 

 starts them southward. 



SUBFAMILY ANATINJE RIVER DUCKS. 



15. GENUS AXAS LINN.EUS. 



a 1 . Culmen longer than middle toe without claw. 

 Ti 1 . Wing over 8, speculum violet, bordered with black. Snbgenus Ann*. 



y 1 . With white on the outer surface of wing; sexes unlike ; colors of male 

 varied and brilliant; female plainer. A. boschas Linn. 28 



(-. No white on outer surface of wing, but linings of wing white; sexes 

 alike ; colors plain. A. obscura Grnel. 29 



/>-. Wing less than 8, speculum green. Subgenus Qv-erguedtda Stephens. 

 f/ 1 . Wing coverts sky-blue. 



. Wing 7. or more. A. discors Linn. 34 



