364 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



known locally as the "butter ball," and by some as the "deaf duck," though 

 why, it is not so easy to see, as it never shows any signs of defective hearing, 

 as many a hunter can readily testify. 



Description. " Adult male. Cheeks white; cap black; back reddish brown; tail 

 feathers narrow and stiff; bill short. Female. A whitish streak through dusty 

 cheeks; back grayish brown, with fine buffy bars; belly silvery whitish." 



The "old squaw" {Clangula hyemalis) is plentiful throughout the St. Lawrence 

 and lake region, large numbers wintering on Lake Ontario. Locally it is known 

 to our Canadian neighbors as the " cock-a-wee," and the local names of "John 

 Conolly " and "John Hollenbeck " are common. When a boy the writer was taught 

 to call this bird the "south, south southerly," words which its cry closely imitated. 



Description. '■'Adult male. Central tail feathers much lengthened; in winter, 

 crown, nape, throat and neck all around white; in summer, black with rusty 

 markings on back. Female. In winter, cheeks, neck all around and under parts 

 white; breast and sides of neck dusty. In summer, crown, cheeks and nape blackish; 

 throat and breast dusky; a whitish patch back of eye." 



The harlequin (Histrionictis liistrionicus) has been taken here, but it is very scarce. 



Description. "Adult male. Back and breast slaty blue ; head darker. Female. 

 Front half of cheeks and spot over ears whitish; above blackish brown; below 

 dusky and whitish." 



The American eider {Somateria dresseri) is the only individual of that species 

 ever found here. It is not numerous at any time, though several are taken 

 every autumn. It comes to us very late, and its stay is limited to two or three 

 weeks at the most. 



Description. '■'Adult male. Crown black with a white wedge. Female. 

 Brownish black above, margined with rusty and buff; below dusky finely margined 

 with buff; bare spaces on either side of feathers of culmen rounded at the base 

 (posteriorly)." 



The American scoter (Oidemia americand) is common enough in this locality, 

 though no hunter will go out of his way to kill one. They are exceedingly 

 poor eating, their flesh being very strong and fishy, so much so that to eat 

 one in Lent would hardly violate any church rule. Locally they are known as 

 "niggers" and "ironclads." 



Description. "Adult male. Wholly black; bill black, yellow at base. Female. 

 Brownish above, lighter below; no white on wings or sides of the head." 



The white-winged scoter {Oidemia deglandi) is also found here, but for the same 

 reason it is in no greater demand as a table bird than its relative, the 

 American scoter. 



