THE BIRD BOOK 



Bilffle-hprid 



01d-s*iLun\ 



153. BuFFLE-i-iEAD. Charitonetta albeola. 



Range. — North America, breeding from United 

 States nortliward. Winters soutli to Mexico. 



Gunners l^now this liandsome little duck by 

 the names of "Butter-ball," and "Dipper," a name 

 also given to Grebes. It is also quite similar, but 

 smaller (15 in. long), to tlie American Golden-eye 

 but has a large white patch on tlie back of the 



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Buff 



Dull buff 



liead, from eye to eye. It is an active bird and, 

 like tlie two preceding, is capable of diving to a 

 great depth to get its food. Its nesting habits 

 are like the preceding. Eggs eight to fourteen. 

 Size 2 X 1.40. Data. — Alberta, Canada, June 6, 

 1899. Seven eggs. Nest in hole in tree stump, 

 lined witli down. Collector, Dr. George. 



I,')-!. Old-squaw. Ihnchlii Jii/cwalis. 



Range. — Nortliern Hemisphere, breeding in the 



Arctic regions; south in winter to New .lersey 



and Illinois. 



Tlie Long-tailed Duck, as it is called, 

 is especially noticeable because the 

 breeding plumage of the male differs 

 markedly from that in the winter. In 

 summer their general plumage is black- 

 ish browii, with a white patch around the 

 eye, and white belly. In winter they are 

 largely white. The central tail feath- 

 ers are much lengthened. They breed 

 abundantly in Greenland, Alaska and the 

 Hudson Bay Territory, placing their 

 nests of grasses and weeds on the ground 

 near the. water. It is generally conceal- 

 ed in the long grass. The eggs numner 

 from six rto twelve. Size 2. x 1.50. Data. — 

 N. Iceland, June 10, 1900. Nest on ground, 

 lined with down. Collector, S. H. Wallis. 



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