22 BIRDS OF ARKANSAS. 



Bufflehead. Charitonetta albeola. 



The bufflehead or "butter-ball," one of the smallest ducks, is a 

 fairly common migrant in the Mississippi Valley and, although 

 reported but a few times from Arkansas, doubtless occurs there quite 

 regularly. At Helena, Mrs. Stephenson reports it on the authority 

 of a local hunter. Dr. D. A. Richardson noted it as a rare migrant 

 at Osceola in 1886, and it is reported by local hunters at Paragould 

 as fairly plentiful in Mississippi County. C. E. Brewster killed one 

 and saw a number that had been killed on Big Lake in November, 

 1909, but they are said to be rare there. 



Ruddy Duck. Erisrnatura jamaicensis. 



The little ruddy duck, sometimes called "bristle-tail" or "booby," 

 occurs in the Mississippi Valley as a common migrant and less fre- 

 quently as a winter resident from Illinois southward. The only 

 records from Arkansas are furnished by McAtee, who found it com- 

 mon at Turrell November 17, and saw several on Menasha Lake 

 November 21, 1910. 



Snow Goose. Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus. 



Greater Snow Goose. Chen hyperboreus nivalis. 



Snow geese, undoubtedly representing both forms of the species, 

 occur regularly in migration in the Mississippi Valley, where they are 

 almost universally known as "brant" or "white brant." They were 

 seen at Helena, October 19-November 21, 1895, by Mrs. Stephenson, 

 at Fayetteville, March 20-31, 1883, by Prof. Harvey, and at Delight, 

 March 28, 1911, by Mr. Savage, these being the only definite records 

 from the State. 



[Blue Goose. Chen cxrulescens. 



The range of this goose is imperfectly known, but since it occurs as a common 

 migrant in Illinois and as an abundant winter resident on the coast of Louisiana, it 

 will undoubtedly be found in Arkansas during migrations.] 



White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons gambeli. 



The "speckle-belly" or "speckled brant," as this goose is often 

 called, is a fairly common bird in the Mississippi Valley and probably 

 occurs regularly in Arkansas in migration. The only record from 

 the State is by Audubon, who states that "numbers [were] seen high 

 on the Arkansas Krver." 1 



Canada Goose. Branta canadensis canadensis. 



The wild goose is a common migrant and winter resident in the 

 State and a few pairs remain to breed in the most secluded parts ol 

 the Sunken Lands. At Walker Lake on May 4, 1910, I saw a pair 

 and was told that several pairs breed there each season. This is 



i Birds of Amer., VI, p. 209, 1843. 



