18 BIKDS OF ARKANSAS. 



Black Duck. Anas rubripes. 



Although common along the Atlantic coast, the black duck is com- 

 paratively rare in the Mississippi Valley. A specimen taken in Mis- 

 sissippi County November 5, 1887, has been recorded by Mr. William 

 Brewster.i McAtee saw a few at Mud Lake November 13 and 14, 

 many at Menasha Lake November 21 and 22, and one at Turrell 

 November 19 (1910), and took specimens at each of these localities. 



Gadwall. Chmilelasmus streperus. 



The gadwaU, known frequently as "gray duck" or "red wing," is 

 a common winter visitant in the State. Mr. O. Widmann speaks of 

 it as plentiful on Big Lake^ and Mrs. Stephenson reports it at 

 Helena. McAtee found it common at Mud Lake November 13-15 

 and abundant at TurreU November 17-19 (1910). It was common 

 at Menasha Lake December 10, 1909, when 50 were killed by the 

 club members. According to Goss, this bird feeds upon insects, 

 snails, tadpoles, crawfish, bulbous roots, tender blades of grass, and 

 cereals.' On Big Lake it is said to feed in open water in company 

 with coots {Fulica amencajm), and its food there consists largely of 

 seeds of aquatic plants. 



Baldpate. Mareca americana. 



The baldpate or American widgeon is a common migrant in the 

 Mississippi Valley, breeding from Kansas and Wisconsia northward 

 and wintering mainlj^ from the Gulf States southward. It doubtless 

 occurs regularly ia Arkansas in faU and spring, but there are few 

 available records. HolUster states that he saw very few in the bags 

 of market hunters at Stuttgart, and McAtee secured only two speci- 

 mens in November — one at Mud Lake, November 14, and one at 

 Turrell, November 19. C. E. Brewster saw a few on Big Lake, 

 December 17, 1910, but it is not usually common there. The food 

 of the baldpate is said to consist of roots and seeds of aquatic plants, 

 water insects, beechnuts, etc. It is accused of robbing the canvas- 

 back and other diving ducks of the food which these birds bring to 

 the surface. 



Gxeen-winged Teal. Nettion carolinense. 



The green-winged teal is an abundant migrant in both spring and 

 fall, and small numbers spend the winter in the State. Southbound 

 migrants are first seen in early October, and by the middle of Novem- 

 ber the species is abundant on the lakes and sloughs of the Sunken 

 Lands. A few remain on Big Lake all winter, but most of them leave 

 with the coming of severe weather. The first small flight was noted 



1 Auk, XIX, p. 188, 1902, « Birds of Kansas, p. 59 1891 



iiAiifcjXnjp.aas, 1895, 



