Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 513 



through the following month, but it was not until November that it 

 became really common, considerably exceeding its spring abundance. 

 Flocks of from ten to twenty birds were found on various occasions in 

 the ponds, and a number of specimens were secured. Curiously 

 enough, all of the individuals in the flocks that we s iw seemed to be 

 adult males, and, indeed, the only females recorded in the fall were 

 those which had been killed by local gunners. It was interesting to 

 observe the manceuvers of a flock when seeking a place to alight. They 

 would sweep low over the waters of a pond, then rise and disappear 

 over a wooded ridge half a mile away, returning to repeat the move- 

 ment until satisfied that the coast was clear, when they would settle in 

 some shallow spot and begin to feed, remaining in one place for hours 

 at a time, if not disturbed. November 14 was the latest date on which 

 an opportunity was given to record the species, although no doubt it 

 remained much later. It was observed by Mr. Simpson from Novem- 

 ber 17 to 23, 1902, but it is very doubtful if it ever remains through 

 the winter. 

 2 1 . Anas obscura. Black Mallard ; Dusky Duck. 



This is the most numerous of the "pond ducks," at least in the 

 spring, and occurs as a regular migrant and casual winter resident. 

 Its arrival takes place early in March, and during its sojourn it fre- 

 quents the ponds on the mainland and Peninsula fully as much as the 

 waters of the bay. In the spring of 1900 the first individuals were 

 observed on the bay on March 3 1 . They were repeatedly noted among 

 the floating ice on the main lake, but the ponds were their usual resting 

 places and feeding resorts. Throughout April they were quite common 

 in such situations, usually in flocks of from five to fifteen individuals, feed- 

 ing mainly on the seeds of wild rice, with which the gullets and stomachs 

 of the specimens secured were crammed. Towards the end of April it 

 was usual to find these ducks in pairs, apparently mated for the season, 

 and, indeed, it is quite possible that they breed on the Peninsula, 

 although not observed by us later than May 5. On this point Mr. 

 Bacon says: "Although ordinarily not remaining after the first of 

 May (May 2, 1901), I have on different occasions seen a single Black 

 Mallard in the summer months (August 15, 1896; June 25, 1900; 

 July 19, 1903), but I have never seen a flock of old and young at this 

 time, so I am inclined to think that the species has not bred here of 

 late years. During the fore part of September, (September 13, 1894, 

 September 14, 1895, September 4, 1897, September 5, 1902), it reap- 



