596 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



seasons, when the winter holds late, there is no apparent movement 

 until the middle of March. The migrants do not remain long. Out- 

 side of breeding localities, they are not often reported after early 

 April. A few, however, seem to linger well through the month. 

 ' Sometimes, in the midst of the migration, the unexpected happens. 

 A cold snap comes down suddenly upon the waters alive with wild 

 fowl, and they are forced to change their habits. From swimmers they 

 become skaters. Mr. Ruthven Deane informs me that March 13, 1892, 

 a rough, cold day, when boatmen were compelled to break ice over a 

 mile to get their boat through, boat, paddles, and men were coated 

 with ice, and English Lake marshes were mostly ice bound, there were 

 thousands of ducks and geese sitting around in droves on the ice. The 

 same gentleman has kindly furnished me with the following data from 

 the records of some of the shooting clubs at that lake. In 1881, first 

 Mallard shot, February 10; in 1886, first shot, March 14; in 1887, first 

 shot, March 6; 1892, January 1. The last Mallard shot each of the 

 following years is also given: 1881, December 7; 1886, December 11; 

 1886, November 25; 1889, December 24. 



They pair early. Even in February they are often noticed mated, and 

 by the middle of March some years, seem mostly paired. Soon after 

 pairing they seek a nesting place. The nest is usually placed on the 

 ground, or in the grass, drift, or accumulated vegetation, though in- 

 stances are reported where they have been found in hollow trees. Late 

 in April the nests may begin to be found, with a complement of fresh 

 eggs. Through May and into early June nests of eggs are to be seen, 

 but the later ones are well incubated, and most of the birds have young 

 by June 15. Mr. Deane informs me of one nest containing eleven eggs 

 at English Lake, the week ending May 4, 1890, which was placed on 

 a tussock of grass in an open meadow,, and of another found the same 

 week placed on the top of a large haycock. They were very numerous 

 at English Lake, August 8, 1897. Evidently had bred in that vicinity. 

 (Deane.) Mr. H. K. Coale informs me of having seen a brood of 

 twelve at Davis' Station, Starke County, June 1, 1884. He caught 

 several young the same day, ranging from one day to several days old. 

 They have been reported as breeding in the following counties: Lake 

 County (L. T. Meyer, J. G. Parker, Jr., C. E. Aiken); Starke (Ruthven 

 Deane, Charles Dury, H. K. Coale); Knox (Robert Ridgway); Dekalb 

 (H. W. McBride); Steuben (C. L. Cass); Laporte (C. L. Barber); 

 Wabash (Ulrey and "Wallace). 



After breeding, the Mallards gather into small flocks, which unite as 

 the numbers increase from the daily additions of old and young from 

 the meadows and swamps. Then they keep in the marshes and more 



