ANATIN.R - THE DUCKS - M.VRECA. 



623 



aro (losrril)P(l as Ihmiik small, imich rlonj^atcd. },'rn(Mally laiK't'r at mii' ciid, and of a 

 pale Hca-f^rt't'ii color. 



ApoonliiiR to Dr. ('ooin-r, this species is one o|' the most alnindant fresh-water 

 Ducks found duriiii,' the winter in Calil'ornia. and. lirin;,' easily shot, is one of the 

 most conunou kinds in the market, it is. unlike the Kuropean species, very rarely 

 seen on salt water; hut. like the Teals, resorts to every little pool and swamp. It 

 is generally supposed to keep a sentinel on j^uard while feeding. Imt may he decoyed 

 within easy ^junshot by imitatinj,' its notes. It has been found, duriiif; the summer, 

 amonfi; the IJocky Mountains, in latitude 41.'° N.. and is .said hy l»r. Siickley to breed 

 among the inland lakes of ( )re<j;on. At that season it usually ranges from latitude 



r»o° to «;s°. 



During the violent revolving gab- which visited the l?ermudas, Oct. I'li, lHu4 — as 

 Mv. Ilurdis states — a large number of Ducks, including this species, took refuge in 

 the creeks and nuirshes of the islanils. where several JSald-pates were shot by dif- 

 ferent persons and brought to him for ins])ecti(m. In Xovember of the same year 

 a single example — a female — was shot. These were the only ones taken on the 

 Islands during his residence there. 



From the f\ill iind interesting notes of the late ^Ir. Hobert Keinucott ndative to 

 this species we gather tlie following observations : A l>ald-pate"s nest was taken 

 near Fort Yukon, June 7, some thirty rods from the river, on high, dry ground, 

 among large sjjruces and poplars. This species always nests on high, dry ground, 

 among trees or bushes, at a consiilerable distance from water. The Dufi/a aritta 

 nests in somewhat similar situations — though not generally .so far from water — and 

 sometimes in dry spots in grassy meadows. Sputid'i vli/jwdta breeds in the woods ; 

 Bucpphiihi iilhrithi in holes in trees; Qiirvi/Ki'diih ili'sntrs and Xiftinu niro/iiiciisi's in 

 high, dry grounil among trees ; Fiifir nffiiiis and F. marUa in gr.'issy edges of lakes, 

 in water, but never in deej) water, unless the nest be on a tussock. ^Ethi/ia vallisneria 

 nests in rather dee]) water, among grass. Mclnnetta velrctino and PcHonctfo perspi- 

 cillata breed here — the former very abundantly — nesting among large spruces close 

 to the water. Thus it will be seen that the Ivivtn- Ducks nest generally on dry land, 

 and the Sea Ducks in water, or just on the edge of water. Hfrfmii-ffd nests the latest 

 of all the Ducks, and the Mallard the earliest, ^fr. Kennicott adds that the Hald- 

 pate is generally known to the voi/aijeiirs throughout the Fur Countries by the name 

 of "Smoking-Duck," or by its Cree name of Ximimipikhtwaii, Avhich signifies a 

 smoker ; and its soft, gentle whistle may be easily imagined to resemble the Cree 

 words. 



The Widgeon breeds rather .abundantly throughout the whole of British America, 

 as far north as the Arctic Ocean, but only rarely in the extreme northern parts of 

 the United States, both east and west of the Kocky Mountains. In October and 

 April it visits in large numbers the rivers and marshes, as well as both sea-coasts, 

 of Northern United States, and is much sought by hunters, its flesh being excellent, 

 and the bird generally in good condition. It winters in the Southern States, Mexico, 

 and the West Indies. Though in winter the Widgeon collects in very large flocks, 

 it passes over the northern parts of the INIississippi Valley in small bands, and usually 

 arrives at the Mackenzie and the Yukon in pairs, or in small parties of three or 

 four together. It reaches Slave Lake and the Yukon early in May, and begins to 

 nest .about the middle of that month, though some do not do so till the early part 

 of June. It is rather more common west of the moiuitains than in the Mackenzie 

 Region, and considerable numbers are foTuid in the breeding-season on Lake Winni- 

 peg, where several were obtained by INIr. Donald Gunn. In the north the Widgeon 



