10 



NORTH AMERICAN DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



as are now available respecting the distribution and migration of the 

 ducks, geese, brant, and swans of North America, together with a 

 ^brief reference to a few species which occur in Panama and the West 

 Indies. A summary is also given of existing information as to the 

 breeding grounds occupied by the several species, their winter resorts, 

 the routes selected in passing north and south, and the times of mak- 

 ing their journeys. Other subjects of investigation still under way 

 are the food habits of the various species, principal ducking grounds, 

 methods of hunting, and the means which have thus far proved most 

 successful in the protection of these birds. 



The problem of the legal protection of ducks, geese, and swans has 

 two phases — protection during the breeding season and protection 

 during migration and in winter. The first phase concerns 24 species 

 of ducks breeding in the United States, while 46 species come under 

 the head of winter residents of the United States. It happens, 

 however, that from the economic point of view the 24 species of ducks 

 and geese that breed in the United States comprise the most important 

 North American species; among this number also are all the species 

 that at the present time need protection while breeding. Of the 24 

 species, 5 are numerically unimportant and are confined to the south- 

 ern portions of the United States and southward, so that they are of 

 little importance for the market and as objects of sport. These 5 are 

 the Florida duck, mottled duck, masked duck, black-bellied' tree-duck, 

 and fulvous tree-duck. 



The other 19 species that breed regularly and commonly in the 

 United States are as follows: 



American merganser, Merganser ameri- 



canus. 

 Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucul- 



latus. 

 Mallard, -Anas boschas. 

 Black duck, Anas obscura. 

 Gadwall, Chaulelasmus streperus. 

 Baldpate, Mareca americana. 

 Green-winged teal, Nettion carolinense. 

 Blue-winged teal, Querquedula discors. 

 Cinnamon teal, Querquedula cyanoptera. 



Shoveler, Spatula clypeata. 

 Pintail, Dafila acuta. 

 Wood duck, Ave sponsa. 

 Redhead, Aythya americana. 

 Canvasback, Aythya vallisneria. 

 Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis. 

 Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris. 

 Ruddy duck, Erismatura jamaicensis. 

 Canada goose, Branta canadensis. 

 White-cheeked goose, Branta canadensis 

 occidentalis. 



A glance shows that this list comprises the species that in later 

 years have decreased most in numbers, and hence that most need 

 protection. 



CAUSES OF DECREASE IN NUMBERS OF WATERFOWL. 



The principal causes of the diminished numbers of waterfowl have 

 been market hunting, spring shooting, and the destruction of the 

 breeding grounds for farming purposes. Previous to twenty years 

 ago, market hunting was the principal factor in the steady diminu- 



