1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 17 



in one of the sloughs near White's Bridge. As the female bird had not yet com- 

 menced to lay, it is probable that the nest would have presented quite a dif- 

 ferent appearance a couple of weeks later. But a sudden rise of water in the 

 slough completely inundated the little island with its clump of grass. 



None of our other ducks show the fearlessness of these little fellows, it being 

 no difficult feat, often, to approach to within a few yards of a pair. They swim 

 slowly away, keeping close to shore and refusing to separate, even when finally 

 compelled to seek safety in flight. 



Shoveller. Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). 



"Spoonbills" are common winter visitants to the shallow ponds and sloughs 

 in the valley. They do not go about in large flocks, but small companies may 

 often be found associating with various other ducks. Although never present 

 in great numbers, the Shovellers are always in evidence and sometimes make 

 up the major portion of the bags secured by hunters. This duck and the Green- 

 winged Teal fall easy prey to the market hunters and fully three-fourths of the 

 ducks noted in the meat markets here have been of these two species. 



Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linnaeus). 



A very common and much sought-for duck, occurring throughout the winter 

 in large flocks. Over all the west side marshes and on the many sloughs that cut 

 through the country around Wheatville this species is to be found in goodly 

 numbers. Reports of "Sprigs" nesting have come in at times. 



Wood Duck. Aix sponsa (Linnaeus). 



Personally the author has not observed this duck, but it has been mentioned 

 time and again by hunters who state that it is occasionally met with, though to 

 be considered rare. It seems to occur most often in the wooded swampy region 

 to the south and east of Wheatville. Mr. Joseph Sloanaker observed a pair of 

 Wood Ducks in the river near the bridge at Reedley, in the latter part of April 

 1910. Not infrequently a specimen of this duck finds its way into a local taxider- 

 mist's shop. 



Redhead. Marila americana (Eyton). 



Apparently not very common. The author has never seen but two birds, 

 and the hunters with whom I have talked state that they meet with it only oc- 

 casionally. A friend shot one on a small pond near the Artesian Lake, December 



2, 1904. 



Rumors have come to me of the breeding of this duck at several pomts m 

 the valley, particularly in the vicinity of Firebaugh, and there seems no good 

 reason for discrediting such rumors when one is familiar with the nature of the 

 country in that part of the valley. 



Ruddy Duck. Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmelin). 



These little ducks are often seen in winter on almost any pond that is of 

 sufficient size to allow them to keep out of gun range. They are most often 

 seen in flocks of ten or twelve, swimming in a rather compact company and re- 

 luctant to take wing unless compelled to do so, when their flight proves to be 

 strong and very rapid. ^ 



On several occasions I have seen a flock of these ducks swim about indif- 



