94 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
46. Lesser Blue-bill. Marila affinis (Myt.). (149) 
Synonyms: Little Scaup Duck, Little Blackhead, Raft Duck, Flocking Fowl, Shuffler. 
—Fuligula affinis, Eyt., 1838.—Fulix affinis, Baird, 1858, B. B. & R., 1884. 
Plate II. 
Not distinguishable from the preceding at gunshot range, nor with the 
bird in hand except after careful examination. The principal difference 
lies in the measurements. 
Distribution.—North America in general, breeding chiefly north of 
the United States, migrating south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 
The Lesser Bluebill is mainly migratory in Michigan, and probably 
one of the most abundant migratory ducks of the state, occurring in suitable 
places everywhere, inland as well as on the Great Lakes. It is always 
found in large flocks, which gather in great companies in open water and 
on its feeding grounds, whence it gets the name of ‘Raft Duck and Flock- 
ing Fowl.” It gets most of its living by diving and is fond of the same 
food as the Redhead and Canvasback with which it associates more or 
less. It is much less suspicious than either of these birds, comes readily 
to the decoys, and is therefore one of the good table ducks most often 
bagged by the gunner. It appears in spring as soon as the melting of the 
ice permits, indeed in some years numbers undoubtedly remain in favorable 
localities throughout the winter. The great majority pass north as soon 
as navigation opens and nest far north of our boundaries. Nevertheless 
a few undoubtedly nest each year within our limits. Mr. Newell A. Eddy 
of Bay City states that he is satisfied that it breeds in the marshes at the 
mouth of the Saginaw River; the late W. H. Collins found many of these 
birds, with the Greater Bluebill, at St. Clair Flats in the summer of 1879, 
but did not find any nests, believing that he was too early for them, although 
one nest of the Greater Bluebill was found (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, V, 62). 
Mr. Swales (letter, October, 1904) says ‘I have seen this species several 
times at the Flats in June, July and August. The past summer a flock of 
some 15 to 18 birds remained all of June and July near Bryant’s on the 
Snibora. This flock consisted of both males and females and they were 
wary and apparently in excellent condition. I have no doubt that they 
bred on the Dickinson Island marshes, protected. A number of the 
residents tell me that a few pairs still breed in the isolated parts and in the. 
marsh near the mouth of the Clinton River, Lake St. Clair.” 
In North Dakota Mr. Bent found the nest to be “A hollow scooped in the 
ground profusely lined with dark, almost black, down mingled with a little 
dry grass and occasionally a white feather. They are late breeders, a major- 
ity of the eggs laid during the second week in June or later.” He found as 
many as fifteen eggs in one nest, but the average was from ten to twelve. 
He states that the eggs are ‘rich olive buff, and the lightest types approach 
somewhat the darkest types of the Mallard’s eggs, and the darkest types 
are rich dark buff or deep coffee-colored. The nests were all on dry ground, 
but never more than fifty yards from water.’ (Auk, XIX, 265-66). 
As with many other species the male Bluebills flock by themselves 
after the females begin to sit. The eggs average 2.25 by 1.58 inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult male: Bill light grayish blue, with a black nail; head, neck, chest and upper 
back black, the head generally with a purplish gloss; most of breast, belly, and sides pure 
