CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.. 83 



4th, and on June 29th on an island in Cypress lake, 150 miles further 

 west. The latter nests were in clumps of Elynms condensatus. 

 Number of eggs in a set ranged from 7 to 11; breeds in large num- 

 bers at Edmonton, Alberta. On June 29th, 1894, at Crane lake, 

 Sask., took a nest of this species containing thirteen eggs, seven of 

 which were of the lesser scaup. (_Spreadborough.) Fairly common 

 on Lake Manitoba, where both eggs and specimens were taken; 

 also common on Buffalo lake, Alberta, July, 1895. (JDippie.) 



I have found this species breeding at Long lake, Shoal lake, and 

 Lake Manitoba, in Manitoba; also at Rush lake and Crane lake, 

 Sask. In fact it breeds throughout the country stretching from 

 Winnipeg to the Rocky Mountain foot-hills. It is a late breeder 

 and lays from ten to twelve pale, buff-coloured eggs. It makes its 

 nest on the ground and prefers islands in the small lakes. (Raine.) 

 This species breeds in considerable numbers in the large marshes 

 bordering the south end of Lake Manitoba and I noted it quite 

 regularly between Hamiota, Man., and Boulder lake, Sask., in 1906, 

 and again in the fresh-water lakes and sloughs west of Ribstone 

 creek, Alta. I did not see it at all in the salt lake region. (Geo. 

 Atkinson.) 



On a small knoll in a marsh at Crane lake the writer found a 

 nest of this species in a tuft of grass on June nth, 1894. The nest 

 contained five fresh eggs, while at the same time young of the mal- 

 lard, of a good size, were swimming around. 



XLVIII. MARECA Stephens. 1824. 



136. European Widgeon. 



Mareca penelope (Linn.) Selby. 1833. 



A young drake sent by Holboell to Denmark in 1851 ; Reinhardt 

 had seen two others that were killed in south Greenland. (Arct. 

 Man.) Accidental in Greenland. (Winge.) Accidental in Nova 

 Scotia. (Downs.) 



In Alaska they seem to be more common. A few individuals 

 were obtained by Mr. Elliott on the Pribilof islands during two 

 years' residence. It was never in pairs and seemed to be a winter 

 visitor only. As it has never been seen to the north I am inclined 

 to believe that it breeds on some secluded island of the Aleutian 

 6J^ • 



