WATERFOWL, IN NEBRASKA. 27 



and 500 on Moon Lake, October 10. In Garden and Morrill Counties it was 

 one of the most abundant ducks about the lakes, October 14 and 15 ; and we 

 saw 100 on Lake Alice, near Scotts Blufe, October 19. 



CANVAS-BACK. Aristonetta vaUsineria. 



The famous canvas-back duck is fairly common, but of irregular distribu- 

 tion, throughout the sandhill region in summer ; and, like the redhead, has very 

 much increased during the past few years. It is most numerous on the lakes 

 at the head of the North Loup River. Here, on June 16, 62 were seen on Silver 

 Lake ; 39 on White Willow Lake ; and 14 on Red Willow Lake. It was seen, 

 also, at Moon Lake, Brown County, June 13 ; at West Chain Lake and at Rat 

 Lake, Brown County, June 14. At Trout Lake, in eastern Cherry County, 29 

 were seen on June 11 ; and of the other lakes in eastern Cherry County it was 

 noted at Watts Lake, June 5 ; Little Alkali Lake, June 7 ; Middle Marsh Lake, 

 June 8 ; Hay Lake, June 8 and 11 ; Big Alkali Lake, June 9 ; Molly Marsh, June 

 11; Twenty-one Lake, June 12; and Alkali Lake, June 18. In Morrill County 

 a few were seen at the Hague Lakes, June 21, and at Young' Lake on the same 

 date. In Garden County it was observed at Moffitt Lake, June 21 ; Ed Eldred 

 Lake, June 21 ; Eldred Lake, June 22 ; and at Trainor Lake on the same date. 

 Like the redhead, this duck occurs most commonly on the larger lakes, where 

 it frequents much the open water, usually in company with other ducks, such 

 as the redhead and ruddy, and with the American eared grebe. 



In eastern Cherry County from October 6 to 9, the canvas-back was common 

 on some of the lakes. Two hundred and fifty were seen on South Marsh Lake, 

 October 8, and 500 on Red Deer Lake, October 5. Fifty were observed on Long 

 Lake, Brown County, October 11; 25 on Peterson's Willow Lake, Garden 

 County, October ti, among a much greater number of other ducks, and a flock 

 of 15 was found on Lake Minitare, near Scotts Bluff, October 19. 



* LESSER SCAUP DUCK. Marila affinis. 



On June 1, 17 were counted on the open water of South Cody Lake, and 5 

 on Clear Lake, west of Cody Lake ; and on June 5, 7 on Watts Lake, in eastern 

 Cherry County. These seemed to be belated migrants, though it is barely pos- 

 sible that the species occasionally breeds in this region. No others Avere seen 

 in summer. 



Five were seen on Alkali Lake, in eastern Cherry County, October 8 ; 4 on 

 Dewey Lake, October 12 ; and 15 on Dads Lake on the same date. Fifty were 

 observed on Long Lake, Brown County, October 11, and 55 on Winter Creek 

 Lake, near Scotts Bluff, October 19. 



RING-NECKED DUCK. MaHla collaris. 



The ring-neck is one of the rarer ducks of this region, but we observed it in 

 June at all the groups of lakes, excepting the Cody Lakes and the lakes of Gar- 

 den and Morrill Counties, and it doubtless occurs there, at least occasionally. 

 It was seen on Wood Lake on May 31 ; Willow Lake, eastern Cherry County, 

 June 4 ; Muleshoe Lake, June 7 ; Mud Lake, June 8 ; East Twin Lake, eastern 

 Cherry County, June 8 ; Red Deer Lake, June 8 ; the Sweetwater Lakes, June 

 12 ; Twenty-one Lake, June 12 ; Alkali Lake, June 18 ; West Chain Lake, Brown 

 County, June 14 ; and Red Willow Lake, near the head of the North Loup River, 

 June 16. It was most frequently observed out in the open water, and in pairs 

 or singly, the single birds being chiefly males. 



* BUFFLE-HEAD. Chwritonetta albeola. 

 One seen on Pelican Lake, October 12, and 3 on Dewey Lake, October 6. 



