THE LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 



{Aythya afflnis.) 



The Lesser Scaup, Black-head, Blue- 

 bill, Creek-broadbill, Raft-duck, Shuf- 

 fler and Flocking-fowl are some of the 

 nimierous names applied to this species. 

 Three varieties of scaup ducks inhabit the 

 North American continent : the Ameri- 

 can or greater scaup, the Lesser Scaup 

 and the ring'-necked scaup. When mi- 

 grating, the Lesser Scaup frequents both 

 fresh and salt water, but during the 

 breeding- season it is seldom seen ex- 

 cepting near the fresh waters of the 

 interior. 



In general appearance and habits this 

 Duck is scarcely distinguishable from 

 the greater scaup, excepting in size ; the 

 length of the latter bird being seventeen 

 and three-quarters inches, or about one 

 and one-half inches longer than the 

 Lesser Scaup. 



In many localities it is unquestionably 

 the most abundant of the various species 

 of ducks. This is true of the Calumet 

 Region of Northern Illinois and Indiana. 

 The Little Scaup furnishes royal sport 

 to the gunners, especially during the 

 months of October and April. During 

 the latter months the drakes mingle with 

 the females, and consequently they are 

 easily decoyed within range of some 

 deadly ambush which conceals a true 

 sportsman, who, after bagging a dozen 

 fowls, withdraws from the spot fully sat- 

 isfied with his day's sport. But alas for 



(lie beautiful creatures that fall into the 

 snare of the game-hog or pot-hunter, 

 who ruthlessly slaughter the ducks by 

 the score, practically annihilating the 

 flocks before his hunger is appeased. 

 Some of our states have established laws 

 prohibiting spring shooting, and fortu- 

 nate are the ducks who do their mating 

 and courting within the jurisdiction of 

 these states. 



Many Lesser Scaups, especially the 

 males, linger on Lake Michigan, about 

 Chicago, six months in the year; in fact, 

 this bird has been recorded each month 

 from January to December, inclusive, 

 during mild seasons. 



The scaups common to Europe and 

 Iceland belong chiefly to the greater 

 variety, this species being more north- 

 erly in its range and more exclusively a 

 sea duck. The scaups are expert divers, 

 often descending forty feet below the 

 surface for their food. When pursued, 

 wounded birds have been known to dive 

 among aquatic plants, and, closing their 

 bills on some reed with the tenacity of a 

 bulldog's grip, the birds have remained 

 in such positions after life was extinct. 



In North Dakota I found the Lesser 

 Scaup breeding about the middle of June, 

 after most ducks were through sitting. 



Like the chimney swift, a trio of birds 

 were commonly observed flying together, 

 usually a drake and two females. 



Gerard Alan Abbott. 



A bird flew past a window, 

 Trilling a soft, sweet song. 



And a heart once sad. 



Grew happy and glad. 

 With pleasure the whole day long! 



Iac Lowell. 



59 



