18 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. lNo.7. 



Aythya vallisneria. Canvasback. 



Ash Meadows, Nevada, was the only place where canvasback ducks 

 were met with ; a few were killed there early in March. 



Aythya collaris. Ring-necked Duck. 



The ring-necked duck was found only at Ash Meadows, Nevada, iu 

 March, where several in fine adult plumage were shot. 

 Glaucionetta clangula americaua. Golden-eye. 



Mr. Nelson saw a few whistlers on the lakes at Lone Pine in Decem- 

 ber, 1890, the only individuals of this species seen. 

 Charitonetta albeola. Bufflehead. 



Mr. Nelson reported a fewbuffle headed ducks about the ponds at Lone 

 Pine, California, in December, 1890. 

 Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. 



None of our party saw this species. Mr. BeMing, who has been so 

 fortunate as to see a few each year, saw a pair in May, near Crockers, 

 which is about 20 miles northwest of the Yoseraite Valley. 

 Oidemia americana. Scoter. 



Mr. Nelson found this scoter not very common at Morro Bay, Cali- 

 fornia, in November. 

 Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Scoter. 



The surf scoter was very common at Morro Bay, California, where 

 Mr. Nelson found mainly immature birds. 

 Brismatura rubida. Ruddy Dnck. 



The ruddy duck was first met with at Ash Meadows, Nevada, where 

 a few were killed about the middle of March. Three were seen and 

 secured in the reservoir at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, March 22. 

 Mr. Stephens saw it about the ponds at the ranch at Grapevine Spring, 

 California, April 1-4; and Dr. Merriam observed it in Pahranagat 

 Valley, Nevada, May 22-26. IS ear the western border of the Mohave 

 Desert in California Mr. Palmer found several in bright plumage on 

 Elizabeth Lake, July 2; one on a pond near Gorman Station on the 

 same day; and several on Castac Lake, July 10. It was probably 

 breeding at all three of these places. 

 Chen hyperborea. Lesser Snow Goose. 



A flock of snow geese was seen by Mr. Nelson about Morro Bay in 

 November, 1891. Mr. Bailey found this species common in flocks in 

 Virgin Valley, where it was first observed near Bunkerville, Nev., Jan- 

 uary 23, 1889. They frequented the shores of Virgin Kiver, where they 

 fed on the bleached stems and tender roots of a small club-rush. The 

 gullets of two individuals secured contained nothing excej^t the re- 

 mains of this plant. 

 Anser albifrons gambeli. White-fronted Goose. 



A white-fronted goose remained several days in company with four 

 Canada geese during the latter part of March in the alfalfa field at 

 Purnace Creek, Death Valley, California. 



