BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 61 
crustaceans than is that of the others, and they are a little 
more shy and suspicious. Its presence here through the sea- 
son of reproduction, although by no means abundant, indeed I 
may say rare, shows beyond question that it breeds here to 
some extent at least, but to what is only conjecture until their 
differentiation from the other species is more thoroughly un- 
derstood. Persons entitled to the highest confidence by their 
integrity have expressed themselves certain that they have re- 
peatedly seen the female and young in the marshes in July, 
but science wants a ‘‘certainty” which is more certainly as- 
sured than that. Dr. Coues tells us in his Birds of the North- 
west, that he found them ‘‘breeding along the upper Missouri 
and Milk river,” at least which ‘‘appeared to be of this species, 
as were the several specimens examined.” Their presence 
there would by no consideration justify an assumption that 
they most likely breed here, for there is a marked difference in 
the climate of the two localities. 
Comparatively few of those persons who have taken pains to 
report local observations of the water birds of the State, have 
recognized the species definitely, but Mr. Washburn has as fol- 
lows: ‘‘A afinis, or Little Black-head, appears to be by far 
the more numerous representative of the family Fuligine in 
the fall. I found them very numerous indeed at Dead lake be- 
tween October 10th and 20th. Many were shot, varying some- 
what in size and coloration, none measuring over 17.25, and one 
16. There colors too, varying from brownish-black to jet-black, 
and specimens that were but little marked, to those having 
much wavy black in fine lines on back and sides. Undoubtedly 
there are intermediate examples between Ajfinis and Marila. 
This subject, and the study of hybridism among Anatide and 
Fuliginz, I trust I shall be able to investigate in the future. 
October 11th an adult female afinis secured in Otter Tail 
county, measured 16.50,.7.50, 2.50; and another from the same 
place measured. 17.25, 7.75, 8.” 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill blue; nail black; head, neck, forepart of breast, back 
anterior to shoulder, lower part of back, tail and its coverts, 
black; head with violet-purple reflections, changing occasion- 
ally to green; belly and sides, with axillaries, and central por- 
tion of inner surfaces of wings pure white; lower part of belly 
near anus, undulated finely with black spots; inter scapular 
region and scapulars white, with transverse zigzag bands or 
lines of black which are much further apart in the scapulars, 
