OLD-SQUAW 185 



The young are found the middle of August about the ponds and marshy 

 lakes, some only a week or so from the shell and others already trying their 

 wings. As fall approaches young and old are most common along the shores 

 of the inner bays and among the tide-creeks (Nelson, 1887, p. 73). 



The Old-squaw seems well adapted to its northern home, in which, 

 winter and summer, it is exposed to extremes of rigorous weather. In 

 its main winter habitat far to the north of us, it is most often found 

 in good-sized flocks and sometimes bands together in very large flocks, 

 especially when there is little open water. Flocks may often be seen 

 resting on cakes of ice. It is an extremely noisy duck, for besides the 

 musical notes it keeps up a constant "gabbling," especially at night. 

 Arctic explorers welcome the Old-squaw, for, with the approach of 

 summer, its notes are among the first to break the monotony of the 

 northern solitudes. 



In flight the Old-squaw moves its wings with short, rapid strokes. 

 Individuals of this species often circle high in the air, apparently in 

 play, a habit which is called ' ' towering. ' ' So erratic is their flight on 

 such occasions that birds have been shot in the back when flying 

 overhead ! "As spring approaches, whole flocks of Old-squaws may 

 be seen to leave the water and ' tower ' to the regions of the upper air, 

 swinging in wide circles, surmounting height after height, until 

 almost lost to view, when they turn and plunge downward, hurtling 

 through the air in arrowy flight, sometimes straight downward, some- 

 times zig-zagging wildly, until they rest again on the surface of the 

 sea" (Forbush, 1912, p. 143). The manner of alighting on the water 

 by suddenly dropping in with a great splash is very characteristic 

 of the species. Not only is the Old-squaw noted for its swift flight, 

 but also for its diving ability. So quickly does it dive at the flash of 

 the gun that it is considered one of the most difficult of ducks to kill 

 on the water. Its diving propensities are further evidenced by the 

 fact that it has been taken in gill nets set in deep water eighteen and 

 twenty fathoms below the surface. At Erie, Pennsylvania, eight hun- 

 dred of these ducks are said to have been netted in a single haul 

 (Bacon, 1892, p. 45). 



As is the case with other ducks, the food of the Old-squaw varies 

 with the feeding grounds. ' ' In shallow water near the coast it collects 

 mollusca, Crustacea, fish, and marine insects. In a few instances the 

 remains of the common mussel and shrimp are found. In the sum- 

 mer its stomach is usually filled with fresh- water insects" (Baird, 

 Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, II, p. 61). In the interior (Akron, Ohio), 

 angleworms and insect larvae have been found in stomachs (Haynes, 

 1900, pp. 12-13). Certain marine plants are also taken as food. 



The flesh of the Old-squaw is tough and of very poor flavor. Yet 

 in the eastern states, because of its abundance and the sport afforded 



