North Dakota 3 



Driving" over the uneven, but hard, and well formed, wagon 

 roads, one is impressed at the buntings that sing along the 

 roadways. 



The Chestnut-collared Longspur was encountered every- 

 where through Pierce and Benson Counties. 



The song flight is sweet, delicate and subdued. McCowan's 

 Longspur is less common, but its song is even more pleasing 

 than that of its brown-naped relative. 



The most gushing- display of vocal ability is poured forth 

 by the handsome Lark Bunting as he launches into space from 

 the bushy highways. 



In the bunch grass of virgin prairie. Mallards, Shovellers 

 and Pintail retire to nest. The Gadwalls, Baldpates and White- 

 winged Scoters may be startled from their nest among rose 

 bushes, buck brush, etc., usually near a fair sized lake. The 

 Scoters appear late in June, to breed, coming presumably from 

 the North, for they are known in the middle states as late fall 

 and winter visitors. 



Blue and Green-wing Teals, Lesser Scaups and Ring-necks 

 are partial to damp grassy places, bordering coulees or 

 marshy areas. 



Canvasbacks, Red-heads and Ruddies construct substantial 

 floating nests, midst rank vegetation, and frequently the nest- 

 ing site is completely surrounded by deep open water. As you 

 approach this cover the female paddles gracefully away, after 

 cleverly covering the eggs with down. 



The products of the little stiff-tailed Ruddy are remarkable. 

 The nine or jten eggs deposited, are considerably larger than 

 those of any other species of duck mentioned, except the Sco- 

 ter. In one respect the Ruddy's eggs differ from all other 

 American Wild Duck eggs, because the surface of the shell 

 is granulated, instead of possessing the glossy or oily finish, 

 typical of our other ducks. 



In the groves of poplar and other Dakota timber. Golden- 

 eyes come early to seek a cavity suitable for a setting of ten 

 light blue eggs. 



I found one Hooded Merganser breeding, the only ''Fish 



