34: Wyoming Experiment Station. 



seldom found on lakes or large ponds. During the middle of 

 May, 1899, Mr. Chas. Granger of the Palaeontological depart- 

 ment of the American Museum, called my attention to a nest 

 of this species that was built in a bunch of greasewood over 

 100 yards ,from a temporary pond. A blizzard of unusual 

 severity came up in the afternoon and lasted upwards of 24 

 hours. Upon visiting the nest a second time it was found that 

 the duck had either abandoned it or she had been captured by 

 some animal, and the eggs were frozen. This is the only rec- 

 ord of a nest in the state. I have, however, seen this species 

 above the McGill ranch on the Laramie Plains in the vicinity 

 of ponds as late as June 15th, and am very certain that they 

 were nesting. During migration this species is found as high 

 as 8,000 feet, and thousands of them remain for several weeks 

 at elevations varying from 6,500 to 7,500 feet. Coues reports 

 the Pintail from Rock creek and Shoshone lake ; Bond, common 

 at Cheyenne ; Jesurun, common at Douglas ; Grinnell, very 

 abundant at Lake Como in September, and considerable num- 

 bers on Yellowstone lake. University records : Near Buffalo, 

 Button's lakes, Laramie Plains and head of Green river. 



144. Aix sponsa (Linn.). 

 Wood Duck, 



Possibly a summer resident. Rare as either" a resident or 

 migfant. Bond has mounted one specimen that was killed at 

 the lakes near Cheyenne. Mr. Fred Bond, state engineer, has 

 noted this species along Piney creek. Big Horn mountains; 

 but no specimens were secured. It has also been reported from 

 the oak lands in Crook county, but this lacks confirmation. 



146. Aythya americana ( Eyt. ) . 

 Redhead. 



Migratory ; very common. This is the first of the ducks 

 to arrive from the south and usually reaches the Laramie 

 Plains about the middle of March, and remains if there are a 

 few open places in the lakes. I have seen an opening of a 



