GREATER BLUEBILL 335 
they are equal to most ducks as a table delicacy, 
and even when forced to live upon the coarser 
food from the salt water their flesh does not be- 
come so rank as that of many other species 
under like conditions. A report showing the 
number of these birds which are served as can- 
vasbacks would probably furnish some surpris- 
ing statistics. 
Inhabiting the whole northern hemisphere, 
and mostly breeding in the remote wastes of the 
Arctic regions, the Greater Scaup Ducks, or 
Greater Bluebills, pass the winter season in 
warmer latitudes, wandering alongshore as far 
as the Middle States and in the interior going 
even farther toward warm weather. In the Old 
World they winter in southern Europe and cen- 
tral Asia. 
Their nests are made upon the ground in the 
fashion common to the ducks, of moss and soft 
grasses, and ordinarily contain eight grayish- 
green or drab-colored eggs. They seldom 
breed within the borders of the United States 
and are not often found here earlier than the 
latter half of October. 
Their table during the winter season is sup- 
