BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 37 
they may occasionally be seen flying further up or down the 
river in small parties. 
Once in January, 1874, when the mercury had descended to 
forty degrees below zero while a north wind was blowing 
terrifically, I saw a flock of six of this species flying directly 
into the teeth of the blizzard at their ordinary velocity of not 
less than ninety miles an hour. The compactness of their 
fiocks of half a dozen to fifteen in their flight is characteristic, 
and their directness fully equal to that of the Green-winged 
Teal, (Anas caros inensis). About the third week in April, or a 
little later, they disperse for incubation. They build their 
nests but a short distance from the water, and like the Wood 
Duck, in the hollows of trees, or upon the stubs of such as have 
been broken off by the wind. One discovered by a duck-friend 
of mine (to the location of which he called my attention many 
years since) was placed in as hallow cavity rotted out of a lean- 
ing trunk some forty feet from the ground, and consisted of 
weeds, grass and feathers, the latter completely concealing the 
others. It contained thirteen perfectly white, subspherical, 
thick-shelled eggs, that averaged 2.12 by 1.70 in measurement. 
In one instance, a lady sharing my interest in birds and game, 
while rowing with me, noticed what we supposed to be a Wood 
Duck carrying her chick by the neck from a tree into the 
water. We waited in vain some time to see if the bird would 
not bring another young one. Reaching the middle of the 
small lake, we saw the duck, by the aid of the field-glass, re- 
sume the loving task, and discovered the bird to be a female of 
the species under consideration. This was on the 18thof May. 
Mr. Treganowan found the baby birds in Becker county, on the 
17th of August, showing that in one instance at least, a second 
brood presumptively was brought out in thesameseason. Iam 
not confident that this is universally the case however. The food 
at this time embraces fish, molluscs, and aquatic insects. With 
the crest fully extended, the male of this species, as already 
intimated, presents a most beautiful view when swimming 
leisurely on the undisturbed water, under the deep shadows of 
the environing woods. He takes none of the burdens of incuba- 
tion upon him, bui at that time hides himself away between 
the narrow banks of some solitary stream abounding with small 
‘fish, to resume in due time his place at the head of his well 
developed family. Like the other fish ducks, they stay as long 
as the ice will let them on the shores of the lakes, whence they 
go to open rapids, and late in November mostly drift more 
