COUES ON BIRDS OF DAKOTA AND MONTANA. 653 



BUCBPHALA ALBEOLA, {Linn.) Baird. 



BUFFLE-HEAD. 



This Duck is among the commonest species after the fall migration; 

 and I have reason to believe that it nests, in limited numbers, in North- 

 ern Dakota, as it certainly does in the Milk Eiver country. At Turtle 

 Mountain I found young birds in July, but they were able to fly, and 

 may not have been hatched on the spot. 



List of specimens. 



HISTRIONICUS TOEQUATUS, {Linn.) Bp. 



Harlequin Duck. 



It was my good fortune to determine the breeding of this Duck in the 

 Eocky Mountains of the United States. There is in the National Col- 

 lection an egg cut from a bird taken by Dr. Hay den somewhere in the 

 mountains May 31, warranting inference of the fact here established. 

 Broods of flappers were discovered on a clear brawling stream near the 

 camp on Chief Mountain Lake, and several of them, including the 

 mother of one of the broods, were secured. The nest was not found. 

 It was probably in the hollow of a tree near the spot. The birds 

 showed great powers of swimming and diving in the turbulent stream, 

 where they seemed as much at home as the family of Dippers (Cinelus) 

 that was seen with them. When disturbed, the old bird flew away low 

 over the water, while others sank back quietly till only the head 

 remained in view, much like Grebes. Some sought refuge behind and 

 beneath a little cascade, screened by the whole volume of water that 

 leaped over a projecting rock. One of the broods was seen swimming 

 quietly in a pool near the lake. 



List of apeaimens. 



