THE LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 



605 



No. 296. 

 LESSER SCAUP DUCK. 



A. O. U. No. 149. Aythya affinis (Eyt.). 



Synonyms. — LESSER Scaup; Little Blackhead; Bluebill, etc. 



Description. — Adult male : Similar to preceding but smaller ; the head not 

 glossed with green, — violet or purplish instead. Adult female : Distinguishable 

 from that of A. marila only by smaller size. Length 15.00-17.00 (381.-431.8) ; 

 wing 8.00 (203.2) ; tail 2.30 (58.4) ; bill 1.65 (41-9) ; tarsus 1.40 (35.6). 



Recognition Marks. — See preceding species; smaller. 



Nesting. — Not certainly-known to breed in Ohio. Nest and Eggs, like those 

 of preceding species. Av. size of eggs, 2.25 x 1.58 (57.2 x 40.1). 



General Range. — North America in general breeding chiefly north of the 

 United States, migrating south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



Range in Ohio. — Common spring and fall migrant. A few linger through 

 the summer, but it is not certain that they breed. 



A CAREFUL 

 ducks found 



enumeration of the 

 in Ohio 



Tak 



A FAVORITE WAY STATION. 



THE ©BERLIN WATER-WORKS RESERVOIR UPON WHICH MORE THAN TWENTY SPECIES OF 

 WATER BIRDS HAVE BEEN RECORDED. 



would probably prove this "Little Black-head," or "Little Blue-bill" as he is 

 known to the hunters, the most numerous of all our ducks. It is certainly 

 true that more individuals of this species are seen on our rivers, ponds, reser- 

 voirs and lakes than any other ducks. They are wary and wide awake where 



