SCAUP DUCK 263 



in the early spring. The actual motions of the males consist only of an inflation of 

 the neck accompanied by the low dove-like note, often inaudible, and in a throw- 

 back of the head, which, however, is never carried beyond the perpendicular posi- 

 tion; that is, it is never tipped over as it is in the Pochard and the Golden-eye. If 

 the female responds to this, says Millais, she also lifts the neck stiffly, at the same 

 time uttering a crooning sort of note, like the words tuc-tuc-turra-tuc. Sometimes the 

 female utters her harsh call, and I have seen them making snapping movements with 

 their bills. To quote Millais: "The actual show of the male is a quick throw-up of 

 the head and neck, which is greatly swollen with air as it extends. At the summit of 

 extension the bird utters a gentle cry like the words pa-whoo, only once. As he makes 

 this show, the female sometimes swims around him, lowering the head, dipping the 

 bill in the surface of the water, and making a gentle call, chup-chup, or chvp-chup- 

 cherr-err. Quite as frequently the cry of the male is uttered after the head is raised 

 and slightly lowered. The male also utters a very low whistle." This last note I 

 have never heard. 



Biemschneider (1896) who, writing of Iceland, gave a good description of the curi- 

 ous dove-note which so few seem to have heard, adds that there is evidently very 

 little rivalry or squabbling, the courtship being tame and lacking animation, in great 

 contrast to the behavior of the Long-tailed Duck. 



Over nearly the whole of the nesting area the breeding season is late, extending 

 from about the 7th of June to the end of the month as a rule. It is true that in some 

 warmer coastal localities or in regions not so far north, nests have been found in May. 

 On the Yukon delta, for example, Nelson (1887), found eggs in the last days of May, 

 and Bianchi (1909) has recorded nests from Bering Island taken at the same time. 

 Over most of Alaska they do not nest until later. In Minnesota and in Manitoba, 

 eggs (Greater Scaup ?) have also been taken in May (Cooke, 1906). But the bulk of 

 them nest in June, and late clutches are not uncommonly found early in July (H. J. 

 and C. E. Pearson, 1895; Slater, 1901; E. W. Oates, 1902). 



The Scaup chooses a variety of locations for its nest and seldom confines itself to 

 beds of rushes as the Pochards do. The nest is often in rough, broken country, hid- 

 den among bushes or large stones or in hollows in the ground. Quite often it is found 

 under willow, beech or juniper scrub, but frequently it is in exposed situations. 

 Although usually very near the water, it is rare to find the nest built over the water. 

 On the whole the Scaup prefers dry islands on the banks of which the nest is placed. 

 This last is only moderately well concealed, at least it appears to be easy enough to 

 find where the birds nest in numbers, as in Iceland. There, where they are protected, 

 they make no attempt at concealment and the nests become very prominent when 

 the down is added. 



Among the unusual nests that have been described may be mentioned one on the 

 tundra of Alaska one quarter of a mile from the nearest lake, and another four inches 



