76 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



On May 4th, 1894, at Medicine Hat, Assa., discovered a nest of 

 this species on the bank of a creek. Nest, a hole in the sand, 

 lined with dry grass, amongst rose-bushes. There were only two 

 eggs ; on June i8th another nest was taken under the same con- 

 ditions at Crane Lake ; this nest contained ten eggs. June 7th, 

 1897, ^t Edmonton, Alberta, found a nest in a small clump of 

 willows, about three hundred yards from water, the young had 

 not left the nest and the old bird almost let me put my hand upon 

 her before she left ; also found breeding at Sooke Lake, Vancou 

 ver Island, in 1893. (Spreadborough.) A few pairs breed in the 

 large marshes in western Ontario, especially at St. Clair Flats. 

 (W. Saunders^ This is the earliest duck to breed. Breeding 

 everywhere I have been in the Northwest Territories. {Dippie.) 

 Breeds throughout Manitoba, Assiniboia and Alberta. {Raine.') 



Dall, at Nulato, Alaska, found a set of eight eggs of the Mal- 

 lard laid on the rotten wood in the hollow top of a stump about 

 six inches from the ground. They were concealed under a layer 

 of leaves and feathers. ■ {Nelson.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Five specimens taken at Toronto, Ont., Indian Head, Assa., 

 Edmonton, Alberta ; Revelstoke and Agassiz, British Columbia. 



We have eggs of this species taken in Manitoba, at Indian 

 Head, Assa., at Edmonton, Alberta ; and on Vancouver Island. 



■433. Black Duck, 



A7ias obscura Gmel. 1788. 



This is the common wild duck of Newfoundland and the Mari- 

 time Provinces. Found breeding in a marsh near Brackley Point, 

 Prince Edward Island, in June, 1888, by the writer, and in the 

 marshes bordering fresh-water ponds on the Magdalen Islands by 

 Bishop. Although not a common bird in Labrador, Spread- 

 borough found it breeding there July 7th, 1896. In Quebec and 

 Ontario it still breeds in diminished numbers, but evidently its 

 chief breeding-grounds are towards the Atlantic coast and Hud- 

 son Bay. A few stragglers reach Manitoba, but the writer never 

 observed any west of the Red River valley. Macfarlane obtained 

 the birds at the Anderson River, Mackenzie valley, but no eggs. 



