ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — CLANGULA. 



39 



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and other Ducks in shallow fresh-water ponds, at some distance from the sea-shore. 

 In South Carolina he was informed that this species had latterly Ijecome much more 

 abundant than it was twenty years before, especially on the Santee Kiver. It is an 

 expert diver when in deep bays and estuaries ; but in shallow ponds in the interior 

 it dabbles in tlie mud in the manner of the Mallard, and its stomach is filled with 

 tadpoles, small water-lizards, and blades of grass. At other times Audubon found 

 acorns .and beechnuts, as well as snails and fragments of the shells of unios, tngether 

 with much gravel. The notes of this Duck are said to be rough and coarse, and not 

 to have as much resemblance to those of species peculiar to fresh water, as the cries 

 of birds of this family generally have. Its flight is hurried, the bird rising from the 

 water in a confused manner, but being able to continue long on the wing. This bird 

 l)roduces with its wings, when in motion, a clear whistling sound. Audubon regarded 

 tliis species as identical with the Pochard (JBJ./ert«a) of Europe. 



According to the observations of Professor Kumlien, this species is quite common 

 in the waters of Southern Wisconsin, both in the spring and fall. It is not known 

 to occur there in the summer, and is later in its arrival in the fall than the Canvas- 

 back. Mr. B. F. Goss, however, writes me that he has known this species to breed 

 octrasionally, but rarely, in his neighborhood — Pewaukee, Wis. On the 2lth of May, 

 1868. he camped on an island in Horicon Lake, and remained there four days. This 

 lake is twelve miles long and two broad, with numerous islands and grassy bogs ; 

 these were covered to the water's edge with a scattering growth of trees, with thick 

 buslies and weeds. Here various Ducks Avere breeding in great numbers. On one 

 island, containing about half an acre, the nests were only a few feet apart : and as he 

 approached, the Ducks rose from their nests in a great flock, and it was difficult to 

 iilentify the few nests of other species among the great multitude of ilallards. He 

 found eight nests of the Ked-head, which were almost always in thick grass or weeds, 

 and near the water, none being more than twenty feet distant. The nests were 

 sonu'times slightly elevated, made of any convenient loose material, rather small, 

 and not very neatly finished. They contained from one to five eggs ; but their full 

 complement was probably nine or ten. 



This Duck was found breeding in great numbers on Manitoba Lake, on Shoal Lake, 

 and in the Selkirk Settlement by Jlr. Donald Gunn. 



Dr. Kennerly observed it at Boca Grande, in Chihuahua, in March, 1855. It was 

 also found on the Janos and Conalitos rivers, at various points, at this season, gener- 

 ally going in pairs, rarely in large flocks, and being very shy. 



Eggs of this si)ecies, procured by Mr. Goss, and now in the Smithsonian Museum 

 (Xo. 151 7(>). are of a grayish white with a slight tinge of cream-color. They vary in 

 breadth from 1.70 to 1.75 inches, and from 2.35 to 2.40 in length. Those from tlie 

 Si'lkirk Settlement (Smithsonian Institution, No. 14190), measure 1.70 by 1.35. 



Genus CLANGULA, Bote. 



aangula, Boie, Isis, 1822, 564. — " Flemino, Philos. Zool. II. 1822, 260" (type, Anas clangula, 

 l.iss.). (Cf. DuEssEU, B. Eur. Pt. XLVI. Dee. 1875; Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, April, 

 1380, 101.) 



Olaueion, Kaip, Ent. Europ. Thierw. 1829, 53 (same tyix>; preoccupied in MoUusca ; Oken, 1816). 



Bucephaln, Baird, B. N. Am. Aug. 19, 1858, 795 (type, Anas albeola, Linn.). 



Char. Bill much shorter than the head, deep through the base, the lateral outlines converging 

 -^towanl the tip, which is rather pointed than rounded ; lamella) completely hidden by the over- 

 hanging edge of the iua.\illa ; nostrils situated near the middle of the bill j tarsus longer than the 



