136 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



History. 



This little Duck is widely known on fresh waters, for it 

 is by nature a fresh-water bird, which in autumn and winter 

 frequents the sea-shore. It was named Buffle-head (or Buffalo- 

 head) because of its large fluffy head, which looks particularly 

 big when the feathers are erected. The Buffle-head was not 

 much sought by gunners until within recent years. Its great 

 weakness is a fondness for decoys. Mr. George Spencer 

 Morris writes me (1908) regarding the region about Cape 

 Charles, Va., where he says that twenty-five years ago great 

 flocks of this species were constantly seen and their notes 

 were continually heard. He states the belief that they are 

 not one-fourth as numerous now, yet about the same number 

 as formerly are taken in a day's bag. He believes that the 

 Dipper's infatuation for wooden Ducks will lead to its extinc- 

 tion. Mr. A. C. Bent of Taunton, Mass., says that it was 

 formerly fairly common there but is now very rare. Mr. 

 Israel R. Sheldon says that it was formerly very common but 

 is now rare in upper Narragansett Bay, and that it frequents 

 coves where it is easily taken. Mr. Lewis W. Hill says that it 

 is usually common at Edgartown, Mass.; one man got fifteen 

 in two days. The foHowing brief extracts from authors indicate 

 a decrease: Abundant October and May (Turnbull, east Penn- 

 sylvania and New Jersey, 1869) . Abundant on our coast spring 

 and autumn (Samuels, New England, 1870). Common winter 

 visitor (Merriam, Connecticut, 1877). Uncommon migrant 

 on coast, wintering rarely; not uncommon inland (Howe and 

 Allen, Massachusetts, 1901). Not uncommon transient; rare 

 in winter (Townsend, Essex County, 1905). Of late its 

 autumn visits appear to have been becoming less and less 

 frequent (Brewster, Cambridge region, 1906). Uncommon 

 migrant and rare winter resident in New Hampshire, Massa- 

 chusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and uncommon 

 migrant in Vermont (G. M. Aflen, 1909). 



Observers from all parts of Massachusetts, except Hamp- 

 shire County (where none report it), are nearly unanimous 

 in the opinion that this species is decreasing. Six think that 



