^4 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN ^___ 



not a common species in the fall. The first were observed on October 13, 

 and they were subsequently noted almost every day up to the last of 

 November. A few beautiful specimens were secured by the members, 

 one of which I mounted for the superintendent of the club. 



Green- winged Teal (Nettion carolinense). — A few were seen during 

 the first part of March, but they are not plentiful at that season. In 

 the fall, however, they are at times very numerous. A few were seen 

 for the first time on October 3, and by the middle of the month large 

 flocks had gathered, usually frequenting small water holes in the timber. 

 As the water at these places froze more quickly than on the deeper 

 sloughs, they left for the South somewhat earlier than some of the other 

 hardy species. By December 1, almost all had gone. 



Blue- winged Teal {Querquedula discors). — Not seen at all in March as 

 the weather was much too cold for them. A flock of 16 birds, first ob- 

 served on October 1, increased in a few days to about 100. Despite the 

 abundant supply of natural food and cane seed, the blue-wings could 

 only be considered as birds of passage and by the 20th they were reduced 

 to scattered pairs and single birds. The last one seen was on No- 

 vember 9. 



Shoveler {Spatula clypeata). — Not seen by me in the spring, but a 

 State game warden reported seeing a few near the club grounds on 

 March 8. During the fall spoonbills were seen in small numbers from 

 the first of October until the early part of December. They were usually 

 noted as solitary birds, but one flock of 15 was observed on December 1. 



Pintail (Dqfi/a acuta tzitzihoa). — Ranks next to the mallard in point 

 of numbers. The proportion was not so marked in spring, but at the 

 height of the fall migration large flocks were seen constantly. Because 

 of their preference for more open water these birds do not feed in the 

 timber to the same extent as do the mallards. Early in November a 

 feature of each morning was the large flocks of pintails to be seen fly- 

 ing south, generally maintaining a perfect formation. 



Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). — When I arrived at the club in the fall, 

 the wood duck was almost the only member of the Anatidae present, 

 but it was so plentiful as to make up for the temporary absence of other 

 species. These birds appear to feed to a considerable extent on the seeds 

 of the lotus (yawknut), and the areas covered by this plant soon become 

 the gathering grounds for large numbers of birds. At the Sanganois 

 Club they are most carefully protected and encouraged because of the 

 fact that they serve as natural decoys for the other wildfowl. Many 

 nest boxes are put up and the club imposes a fine of $5 upon any mem- 

 ber who may kill one accidentally. 



Redhead {Marila americana). — Not seen by me either in fall or 

 spring, but they have been reported on two or three occasions in spring. 



Canvasback {Marila valisneria). — Although this used to be one of 

 the principal game birds at the Sanganois Club, it is rarely seen now, 



