71 



thence northward. In the spring of 1884 they appeared at Gainesville, 

 Tex., March 2 ; Manhattan, Kans., March 8 ; Saint Louis, March 11 ; 

 and Heron Lake, Minn., March 24. At Waupaca, Wis., they were seen 

 March 29, and at Vermillion, Dak., April 3. April 16 they were re- 

 ported from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. 



In the spring of 1885 the first were seen at Emporia, Kans., March 

 18 j at Heron Lake, Minn., March 30, where they were common the next 

 day. They were reported from Laporte City and Emmetsburgh, Iowa, 

 April 1; and from Menoken, Dak., and Ossowo, Manitoba, April 6 

 and 7. In the fall of 1885 the last left Heron Lake, Minn., November 

 27. Mr. Lloyd says that in Torn Green and Concho counties, Tex., 

 they are tolerably common in early winter. 



148. Aythya marila nearctica Steju. [614.] Blue-dill; Scaup Duck. 



After wintering in the Southern States, especially along the Gulf 

 coast, the Big Black-head passes over the entire length of the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, to nest in Manitoba and northward. In 1884 it was re- 

 ported from Carlinville, 111., February 13 ; Laporte City, Iowa, March 

 22, and the next day reached Heron Lake, Minn., where a few remained 

 to breed. It arrived at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April 16. 



In the spring of 1885 this was the only species of Duck whose record 

 did not contain an irregular note. It was seen at Laporte City, Iowa, 

 (tat, 42° 18'), March 27 ; Emmetsburgh, Iowa (lat. 43° 8'), March 30; 

 Heron Lake, Minn. (lat. 43° 48'), April 1 ; Huron, Dak., (lat. 44° 21', 

 two observers), and Menoken, Dak. (lat. 46° 58'), April 3 ; and Shell 

 Eiver, Manitoba (lat. 50°), April 7. The most southern breeding record 

 of this species was from Clear Lake, Iowa (lat. 43° 26'). In the fall of 

 1885 the last was seen at Heron Lake, Minn, (lat, 43° 18'), November 27. 



149. Aythya afiinis (Eyt.) [615.] Little Blue-bill ; Lesser Scaup Duck. 



Eange much the same as that of the last, but known to breed as far 

 south as Clear Lake, Iowa. It is an abundant summer resident in 

 western Manitoba. In 1884 it came to Saint Louis, February 26, and 

 after being driven away by the cold, returned March 11 ; advanced to 

 Burlington, Iowa, March 12, and on the 24th was reported from Ver- 

 million, Dak., Storm Lake, Iowa, Heron Lake, Minn., and Portage la 

 Prairie, Manitoba. 



In the fall of 1884 the first migrant appeared at Emporia, Kans., 

 November 8. 



In the spring of 1885 the notes on its migration were too irregular to 

 be of any value. In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Heron Lake, 

 Minn., November 9. The first migrant appeared at Saint Louis, Mo., 

 September 22. In western Texas it is tolerably common in winter. 



150. Aythya collaris (Doiiov.). [616. j Ring-necked Duck. 



This is known in northern Minnesota as the "Fall Duck," and is very 

 abundant during fall migration. A few breed in Minnesota, at least as 



