152 The Water-fowl Family 



ered a second nest on the Black River, June 7. 

 It was in the hollow of a poplar tree some twenty 

 feet from the ground. The hole was dug out like 

 a woodpecker's, an arm's length in depth, and 

 contained ten eggs. In early October we find 

 them generally distributed throughout the United 

 States. The females and young predominate at 

 first. Inland, the smaller bodies of water, lakes, 

 and rivers are their favorite haunts. They are 

 seen usually in small flocks by themselves, diving 

 near the shore for their food, and can readily be 

 approached. Generally one or two birds remain 

 on the surface, ready to give an alarm, and if 

 startled they take quick leave. The butterball is 

 common on both coasts, and is fond of shallow, 

 sandy bays, frequenting the tide-rips and mouths 

 of rivers, remaining through the coldest weather. 

 A few years ago this bird was common all along 

 the New England shore. Large numbers wintered 

 on the Sound between New Haven and Stratford, 

 where the coast is shallow and sandy, early in 

 the morning leaving the outer flats and feeding up 

 the rivers. It was a simple matter to shoot them 

 on their flight, as they came over the bars, low 

 down and usually in the same course. Recently 

 the butterball seem to have largely disappeared 

 from the New England coast, though still common 

 on bays farther south. They are conspicuous as 

 being the least, but by no means last, of our wild- 



