226 ANATID^S. 



flock of many thousands, among whom he generally 

 makes great slaughter." 



Their habit of thus collecting together towards evening, 

 and of sleeping all night on the water, exposes them in an 

 especial degree to this danger ; but they generally abandon 

 a neighbourhood where they have been fired into at night. 



They pass through Canada in great numbers on their 

 flights north and south, and are mostly shot in the Detroit 

 river and the St. Clair Flats, but are not so easily got 

 at in the latter. The American Widgeon is almost 

 invariably to be seen feeding in company with them, 

 attracted also by the valisneria, as already explained. 



The Red-headed Duck (Ay thy a Americana), called 

 also the "Grey-back," very strongly resembles the Canvas- 

 back in general appearance, but on examination it will 

 be seen that it has a shorter and broader bill, that the 

 brown is absent on the head, and that the canvas-like 

 markings on the back are much darker. 



It is also very similar in appearance to the F. ferina 

 of Yarrell above referred to, but is, I believe, a different 

 bird altogether. It is found both on the sea-coast and 

 on inland waters, and feeds chiefly at night. Its eggs 

 are twelve in number and of a greenish white. 



The Buffel-headed Duck (Eucepliala albeola) is as 

 common in the Gulf of St. Lawrence as on the inland 

 lakes and rivers, and is generally seen in pairs. 



