618 Report of State Geologist. 



*42. (149). AytKya aflinis (Eyt.). 



Lesser Scaup B-ucfe. 



SyDouyms, Little Black-head, Little Blue-bill. 



Similar to last species (A. marila nearctica), but smaller and flanks 

 waved or zigzagged with blackish. 



Adult Male. — With head gloSsed with purplish imstead of green. 



Length, 15.00-16.50; y^ng,. 7.50-8.25 (7.81); bill, 1.58-1.90 (1.75); 

 greatest T*idth of bill, .80k95 (.89); least width, .60-;78 (.69). 



R^NGE. — North Amfericaj breeding Chiefly north, of TJilited Statesj 

 rarely south of eentrdl Miohigan> Tow£t' audi Indiana). Winters^ from 

 Virginia and Gulf coast sbutH^to Guatemala- and West Indies. 



Nesi, on ground in swampy places, similar to last. Sgg^s, 6-10; color 

 same as last; 3.25 by 1.5'8. 



Very abundant migramt and raJre- summer resident. 



This is the itlost common of all oui ducks; In April, October and 

 November the open lakes of. northerii Indiana are litferally coveiiel 

 with them. On Wolf Lake, Indiana, and- Calumet Lake,. Illinois, and 

 other small lakes of that vicinity at those seasons of the year, and 

 sometimes as eairly as March 20 (1886), in spring, they congregate by 

 thousands. They forni the principal duck shooting in the vicinity of 

 Chicago. 



These ducks form a part of the second early migrants. They ajre 

 not so' early as the Mallards and some other kinds, but follow promptly 

 after them. Some yeSrs they are noted the first Week in March and 

 othe'rS the middle of that month. They remain- through April, some 

 years into May, occasionally are seen in June. The following date& 

 will give some idea of its oceuTreilee: At Engli^ Lake, first one 

 killed, 1886, March 14; 1887, March 9; ,1889, March 14; 1892, March 

 6, first noted. (Deane.) 



In 1886, March 20, there were thousands at Wolf. Lake. In 1896,. 

 March 20, three were observed at Eouts. (Parker.) 



I have observed them at Brookville Mky Q (1883), and Professors 

 Evermann aiild. Blatchley noted it at Gosport, May 8, 1886. 



Mr. EuthVen Deane informs me Tipew good authority tihat a pair of 

 Leisei^ Searup Dudks. f oUo-v^ed by a bifebfl of youag, wfere seen at English 

 Lake in June, 1886. One oi< both of them, ytetd supposed to be 

 "cripples." Mr. W. B. Collins found! a nest of tikis spedieis at St. Clait 

 Flats, Mich. (Bl N. 0: C; V., p; 61.) 



They seem to pair late. E^riy in May th'ey begin to be observed ift 

 pairs, and by the middle of the month most of those that are found" 



