BUFFLEHEAD. 



95 



brightly in the sun. He pointed to it, and 

 queried, ''Are you a member?" 



"Yes, certainly," said the Professor. 



"Well, well, give me some good reason 

 for shooting the heron and it is yours; for 

 I don't believe in killing birds wantonly." 



The Professor's face brightened and he 

 perceptibly thawed as his pet hobby was 

 approved ; and he apologetically said. 



"The heron is a rare specimen, seldom 

 seen in this region, and I need it for my 

 collection. I have been trying a long time 

 to secure one, and I trust this will excuse 

 our shooting it. It is a cock bird." 



"Oh, that's all right; the bird is yours. 

 Come up to the house and rest. I see you 

 are a stranger and I must take you in." 



BUFFLEHEAD. CHARITONETTA ALBEOLA. 



ALLAN BROOKS. 



This charming little duck has many 

 other names, being called by a different one 

 in almost every locality. Butterball and 

 spirit duck are the names most commonly 

 used, and in Ontario it is generally mis- 

 called widgeon. The bufflehead is found 



in the fall, but as spring approaches they 

 get much more plentiful. At that season 

 the old males execute a curious manoeuvre 

 while courting their mates, continually 

 taking short flights of 10 or 15 yards, 

 slightly ascending on downcurved wings, 



THE BUFFLEHEAD. CHARITONETTA ALBEOLA. 



over the whole continent and frequents 

 both fresh and salt water, as do its closest 

 allies, the goldeneyes, which it resembles 

 in all its habits and nidification. Being as 

 a rule an unsuspicious duck, it often falls 

 an easy prey to the duck shootinqr tyro, but 

 when fairly on the wing it flies at a great 

 speed and good shooting is required to kill 

 it. The flight is almost invariably without 

 sharp turns or twists. Adult males, in the 

 handsome white and black dress, are scarce 



and then dropping into the water again 

 with a splash. They are expert divers, but 

 in this respect they do not equal the long- 

 tail, goldeneye, scoter or other sea ducks. 

 In the adult male the feet are pink, bill 

 pale leaden blue, iris brown. In the fe- 

 male and young male the bill is darker, 

 feet plumbeous sometimes, tinged with 

 flesh color, webs dusky. Females are much 

 smaller than males. In fact, the female is 

 about the smallest duck in North America. 



