DUCKS. 21 



occurring on Big Lake all winter. Hanna saw a flock of 30 at Van 

 Buren November 28. Audubon states that the food of this duck 

 consists of small fishes, tadpoles, snails, acorns, beechnuts, and 

 blades of grass. To this list should be added insects and the seeds and 

 stems of water plants. 



Canvasback. Mania vaKsineria. 

 The famous canvasback occurs as a moderately common migrant 

 and a few remain through the winter. It breeds from Minnesota and 

 Nebraska northward, and on its southward migration reaches Arkan- 

 sas usually in November. McAtee found it numerous on Wappanocka 

 Lake November 17-19, 1910, but it is not usually common there. 

 One specimen was taken also on Menasha Lake November 23, and the 

 species has been reported from Big Lake (a few all winter), Osceola, 

 and Helena. The canvasback feeds mainly on the seeds, tubers, and 

 stems of various water plants (such as pondweed, eel grass, arrow- 

 head, and rushes), and consumes also some moUusks, crustaceans, and 



insects. 



Lesser Scaup Duck. Marila affinis. 



The scaup, or "blue-bill," as it is frequently called, occurs regu- 

 larly in moderate numbers as a winter resident. On Menasha Lake 

 one was taken December 1 (1909), and seven on November 22 and 

 23 (1910). It is reported plentiful at Big Lake about the middle of 

 November (Eason), and one was killed there December 17 (1910). 

 Kumlien reports "a few seen in Arkansas near Ft. Gibson, Ind. Ter., "* 

 probably not far from Fort Smith. 



sing-necked Duck. Marila collaris. 



The ring-neck or "black jack" is a conmaon migrant and winter 

 resident. It occurs abundantly ia autumn on the waters of the 

 Sunken Lands and less numerously on other lakes and sloughs. 

 McAtee found it common at Mud Lake November 13-15 and at 

 Turrell November 17-19. It was abundant at Menasha Lake between 

 November 21 and December 10, 13 birds having^ been kiUed there 

 on the latter date. On Big Lake in November and December it is 

 often the most abundant duck, and gunners there frequently kill as 

 many as 50 birds in a few hours. A few remain all winter (Eason). 

 The food of the ring-neck consists mainly of the seeds and stems of 

 pondweed, homwort, and other aquatic plants, with many nymphs 

 and larvse of water insects. 



Golden-eye. Clangula clangula americana. 



This hardy northern duck is of rare occurrence south of Missouri 

 and Illinois, but is occasionally found in Arkansas in winter. C. E. 

 Brewster observed several on Big Lake December 17, 1910, and Mr. 

 W. B. Eason, custodian of the Big Lake Club, reports a good many 

 there in January, 1911. There are no other records from the State. 



» Field and Forest, II, p. 130, 1877. 



