42 THE CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



' A common migrant. In years past this was one of our most 

 common ducks but as they decoy very readily, they are becoming 

 rather scarce. Formerly Wolf and George lakes in Indiana were 

 the favorite feeding grounds of this and the following species. 

 However, because of the draining of this region, the beds of 

 water-celery and wild rice have been destroyed, thus removing 

 the food supply of these ducks and causing them to seek new 

 feeding grounds. They arrive from the south early in March, 

 and return from the north during the latter part of October. 



The Redhead breeds from the northern part of the United 

 States northward, and winters as far south as Central America. 



Aythya vallisneria (Wilson). Canvas-back. 



Anas vallisneria Wilson, Amer. Orn., VIII, 1814, 103. 

 FuUgula vallisneria Stephens, Shaw's Gen. ZooL, XII, pt. ii, 1824, 196. 

 Aythya vallisneria Boie, Isis, 1826, 980. 



Popular synonyms: White-back. Eed-headed BtrLL-NECK. Bull- 

 neck. 



A rather uncommon migrant, but abundant in former years. 

 In the spring the Canvas-back arrives usually during March and 

 stays in this vicinity for a short time. During the migration 

 periods of the seventies, the water-celery beds in Calumet and 

 Wolf lakes fairly swarmed with the ducks of this species, sports- 

 men journeying from the east and even from Europe to bag them. 

 The earliest recorded arrival in the spring is that of Mr. J. 

 Grafton Parker, Jr., who observed a Canvas-back on February 

 second. It returns rather late in the fall and remains until the 

 ponds and smaller lakes are frozen over. 



The range of the Canvas-back includes nearly the whole of 

 North America, and it breeds from the northwestern states north- 

 ward to Alaska. 



Aythya afSnis (Eyton). Lesser Scanp Dnck. 



Fuligula marila Audubon, Orn. Biog., Ill, 1835, 226. 



FuUgula afflnis Eyton, Mongr. Anat., 1838, 157. 



Fuligula marila var. afjlnis Fobstee, in Cat. of the Birds ascertained 

 to occur in III., Ann. Lye. of Nat. Hist. N. T., Vol. X, 389, 1874. 



Aythya affinis Stejnegeb, Or. Expl. Kamtsch., 1885, 161. 



Popular synonyms: Little Black-head. Little BLUE-BlLt,. Riveb 

 Duck. Beoad-bill. River Scaup. Cannon Ball. Mud 

 Blue-bill. Mabch Blue-bill. Rivee Shuffles. 



This is an abundant migrant and the most common of our 

 lake ducks. It is a very hardy bird, arriving early in March on 

 its northward Journey and returning late in the fall to remain 

 with us until the lakes are frozen over. Mr. J. Grafton Parker, 



