110 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



elapsed, the young had concealed themselves so effectually in the 

 grass which was only three or four inches high that a half hour's 

 search was unavailing. 



Bowles (m Dawson, 1909, p. 772) says that "their principal call 

 is a lisping, throaty whistle, repeated three times in quick succession. 

 It is surprisingly light in character for the size of the bird and serves 

 to confirm the bird's position on the list next to the Teals. . . . The 

 only other note I have heard them utter is a low, short chattering, 

 somewhat resembling that of the Pintail, but greatly reduced in 

 volume. Their quacks, or squawks, of alarm also express the limit 

 of terror, but are still pathetically inadequate in comparison with 

 those, say, of a hen Mallard." 



While the Canvasbaek and the Scaups dive and pull up by the 

 roots the vallisneria or eel grass, the Baldpate manages to obtain 

 a large share indirectly through theft, and at times succeeds in rob- 

 bing them of all ,they bring up. In Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, the 

 Baldpate is said to be the constant companion of the Canvasbaek, the 

 latter possessing great superiority in its diving powers (Baird, Brewer 

 and Ridgway, 1884, I, p. 524). To what extent they are similarly 

 parasitic in California is not known to us. Here, Baldpates are 

 occasionally found in company with Pintails. 



"Almost strictly a vegetarian as to diet, their food in fall and 

 winter consists of seeds, water-weeds, soft roots, and an occasional 

 insect, thus making them more desirable as table birds than the 

 average duck. In late January and February, however, they con- 

 fine their feeding largely to the water-soaked fields, digging up the 

 young grass with their bills and eating roots and all" (Bowles, in 

 Dawson, 1909, p. 771). Near Los Baiios, Merced County, Beck (MS) 

 says the Baldpates were feeding in close companies upon green grass 

 near sloughs. Although the grass was less than an inch high,. it was 

 pulled off close to the ground. Feeding is done chiefly at night. 

 Stomach examination by us has shown that the Baldpate eats a larger 

 percentage of grass than any other California duck. 



"In wing shooting it [the Baldpate] is regarded by the hunters as 

 a great nuisance. It is not only so shy that it avoids the points of 

 land, but by its whistling and confused manner of flight it alarms 

 the other species" (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, loc. cit.). How- 

 ever, it may be decoyed within gunshot by imitating its notes or 

 with well-placed wooden decoys. Its curiosity as well as its sociability 

 cause it to return again and again to decoy ponds. 



In California the Baldpate is considered as inferior game in spite 

 of the fact that large numbers have been annually sold on the market. 

 Nevertheless, when in good condition, its flesh is hard to distinguish 

 from that of the Canvasbaek. Over 52,000 Baldpates were sold in the 



