68 Universi'ty of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 30 



but there were at least twenty or twenty -five adults of each sex settled 

 there at the beginning of the nesting season, and eight or ten broods of 

 ducklings appeared upon the lake later on. 



On June 1, at Lake Como, the scoters were all in pairs, and they 

 continued so until near the end of the month. On June 29 the first 

 small flocks of males were seen leaving for the coast ; some remained 

 inland until near the end of the summer. 



On July 20 the first brood of young was seen, others following 

 within a few days. Broods counted consisted of eight or nine duck- 

 lings, but counts had to be made soon after hatching, for the broods 

 quickly merged into loosely assembled flocks so that it was not long 

 possible to keep track of separate families. Sometimes two or three 

 adults were seen in attendance upon sixteen or twenty young, and 

 once a single duck appeared leading thirty -two small ducklings across 

 the lake. The young were very self-reliant, and sometimes six or eight 

 would be found foraging independently, unattended by any old bird. 

 Thus this colony of white-winged scoters led a markedly communistic 

 existence, individuals, young and old, gathering together into larger 

 or smaller groups as suited their convenience at the time. The scaups, 

 too, had as little seeming regard for family ties, their habits in these 

 matters being much the same as with the scoters. 



Young scoters but a day or two old were seen diving expertly, 

 making long stays below the surface. Old birds, carefully watched 

 through binoculars, were frequently seen to make use of their wings 

 as they dived, but this was not invariably the case. White-winged 

 scoters to the number of twenty or more were still on Lake Como on 

 September 19, the last day I visited the lake. 



Four specimens were preserved, ducklings not more than two or 

 three days old (nos. 44645-44648). 



Oidemia perspicillata (Linnaeus). Surf Scoter 

 An adult male that was seen on Lake Atlin, opposite the town, on 

 July 21 and on several days following, was the only surf scoter 

 encountered during the summer. 



Branta canadensis (Linnaeus), subsp.? Canada Goose 



Canada geese were migrating in some numbers at Gladys Lake, 

 September 8, and they were abundant at certain points on Lake Teslin, 

 September 10 to 13. A flock of about flfty passed over Atlin on 



