66 NOTES ON THE 
white; a narrow white patch on the middle wing coverts; 
greater coverts black, tipped with white, which is continuous 
with the white secondaries, but separated from that on the 
middle coverts; anterior scapulars white, edged externally 
with black; posterior ones black, with a white central streak; 
rest of upper parts, sides behind, and tibia, black; long feath- 
ers of the flank white, tipped and edged above with black. 
Length, 22.50; wing, 9.50; tarsus, 1.60; commissure, 1.80. 
Habitat, Northern North America. 
CHARITONETTA ALBEOLA (L.).  (153.) 
BUFFLE-HEAD. 
Occasionally, during the entire summer, individuals of this 
species have been seen along the shores of the larger lakes 
bordered by timber, as also along the Minnesota river in the 
vicinity of Shakopee. Such has been my confidence that to a 
limited extent they breed here, that I have left no opportunity 
unimproved to discover the final proof in the finding of a 
veritable nest. But for this testimony I must still wait, not- 
withstanding the oft repeated assurances of several persons 
that they have found them. In one instance my hopes had 
been nearly realized when I found the nest to be that of the 
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). In another, where the species was 
apparently well known and excellently described, proved to be 
quite another, the nest of which was on the ground, which 
however was so elevated that in passing to it the female 
appeared to go into a hollow limb immediately in front of it. 
They reach the principal portions of the State oftentimes 
before there are lakes enough open to allow them to get to 
their chosen food, the mussels and small fry. The flocks in 
spring migration are usually small compared with those of late 
autumn, averaging no more than ten to twenty ducks, while at 
the later one, they often exceed five times those numbers. 
They are incessant divers, and very fleet in their movements 
under the water, seizing minnows like the true fish ducks, 
which element of food becomes evident in the deterioration of 
their flesh for the table. 
The principal northern migration of the species is over by 
the 1st of May, flocks of three or four, and even only pairs re- 
maining a little later. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill blue; head and neck anteriorly, dark colored; region in 
front of the eye, and on the sides of the collar behind, rich 
