626 EEPOHT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Dr. F. Stein observed it on the lower Wabash River (Bull. Xuttall 

 ( ) ni. Club, July, 1876, p. 44). A specimen was taken by Mr. T. J. Baum 

 near the mouth of the Great Miami River (Dearborn County, Indiana) 

 February 24, 1880. (Journal Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist. December, 1881. p. 

 341). 



Mr. Charles Dury informs me there is a male in the collection of the 

 Cuvier Club, Cincinnati, 0., that was taken on the Whitewater River 

 in March. There is a male in my collection taken by Mr. R. Williams 

 at Metamora, Franklin County, Indiana, about 1882. Mr. J. E. Beas- 

 ley reports having mounted a specimen killed near Thorntown in 

 1889. Mr. C. A. Stockbridge reports one specimen from Allen County, 

 and Dr. Vernon Gould reported it from Rochester, March 7, 1892. 



They come from the north very late. The earliest date given for 

 their arrival is that given by Mr. J. W. Byrkit, who reported it very 

 abundant on Lake Michigan, off Michigan City, December 12, 1887. 



They are great divers. The depth to which they dive may be known 

 by the fact that they are often caught in that vicinity in abundance 

 in gill nets in twenty to thirty fathoms of water. 



Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr.. and Mr. F. M.. Woodruff both report it very 

 abundant on Lake Michigan the winter of 1894-5, and quite common 

 the winter of 1896-7. The first mentioned winter, Mr. Parker tells 

 me, during January and February, many of these ducks were shot off 

 the government pier at the entrance to Chicago harbor. January 14, 

 1897, both the gentlemen mentioned reported it from Millers, Ind. 

 February 1 following Mr. Parker reported it very abundant at that 

 same place. He saw several enormous flocks. 



They usually pass north in February. The latest record I have is 

 one given by Mr. Stewart E. White, Grand Rapids, Mich., where he 

 observed three April 2, 1891. This duck is a great gabbler. To this fact 

 it owes several of its names, among them "Old Wife," "Old Squaw," 

 and "Scolder." Its notes are different from those of any other duck. 

 Undoubtedly the name by which it is called some places, south-south- 

 erly, comes from the interpretation of these notes into south-south- 

 southerly. Its call consists of five notes, which may be interpreted 

 into several fanciful sayings. 



Mr. Nelson speaks of its harmonious notes during the breeding sea- 

 son, when it is very abundant in Alaska, and says the fur traders of 

 Upper Yukon have given it the well merited name Organ Duck. 

 Breeds far north. It is one of the most abundant summer residents on 

 the Alaskan coast. 



