, 
198 THE CONDOR Vol. XXI 
June 18, about half the young were already hatched, some being, apparently, nearly a 
imontL old (fig. 41). The rest of the nests contained eggs in various stages of incuba- 
tion. In most cases the eggs were laid on the broken-down tules with little or no at- 
tempt at nest construction. They were generally two or three in number, rarely four. 
The pelicans and cormorants were feeding principally on fish of the minnow family 
which are considered of no value for human consumption. The remains of a rainbow 
trout found in the colony was the only real food-fish noted. 
Mergus americanus. American Merganser. Eleven birds seen at Clear Lake April 
10. Noted several times at Malheur in late April and early May, one bird May 25, six 
birds July 3, ten or a dozen August 8, and rather common thereafter. Two birds seen 
on stream near Adel September 2. It is very probable that M. serrator also occurs in 
the region, but it was not identified. 
Lophodytes cucullatus. Hooded Merganser. Single bird seen April 5 at Clear 
Lake. 
Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. Rather common at Clear Lake; nest containing four 
eggs found in this locality April 10. At Malheur Lake nests abundantly in hay fields, 
both inside and outside reservation boundary. The earliest of the nesting ducks in the 
vicinity, beginning to lay the latter part of April, but nesting most abundantly from May 
15 to 31. The most common nesting site is on the ground in long grass, though often 
found in sides of haystacks, under scattering bunches of hay and, occasionally, on dry 
ground in sage-brush. Eggs generally from eight to twelve in number. As soon as the 
young leave the nest they are taken out onto the open water of the lake, and during late 
summer the species is rare in other localities. 
Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. Probably nearly as abundant as the last spe- 
cies at Malheur, but nests, on an average, much later, being the last duck to finish in- 
cubating. Nesting localities very much the same as those of the mallard excepting that 
it was not found in haystacks. (See fig. 42). Many nests were seen in the hay fields 
and one in the sage-brush. First nest, containing seven eggs, found June 1; height of 
nesting season June 20 to 30. First young seen July 5. The eggs in a nest in the Spring- 
er field did not hatch until August 8, and two broods of young about two weeks old were 
noted August 22. From seven to eleven eggs is the usual complement, though one brood 
of fourteen young was seen. 
Mareca americana. American Widgeon. Not noted in spring, though’ probably 
occurs at this season. First seen in fall migration July 31, and became rather common 
during August. 
Nettion carolinense. Green-winged Teal. Common at Clear Lake during my visit 
in April. First noted in fall at Malheur July 31; common after early August. 
Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. An adult male seen at Malheur June 13 
was the only one identified. It is difficult to distinguish between this and the next spe- 
cies, however, particularly in case of the females, and it is possible that discors nests at 
Malheur in very small numbers. 
Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. Abundant nesting bird at Malheur in 
hay lands both inside and outside reservation line. Began laying early in May, most 
plentifully during month of June. Many nests of this and other ducks are destroyed an- 
nually by ravens, coyotes, skunks and mink. Careful observations in the Malheur region 
seemed to show that at least fifty percent of the zground-nesting ducks’ eggs are de- 
stroyed by these agencies, ravens and skunks probably doing the most damage. 
Spatula clypeata. Spoonbill. Breeds at Malheur in small numbers. The only nest 
positively identified as belonging to this species was found on May 31 and contained ~ 
eleven eggs. It was situated on the ground in a hay field and was indistinguishable in 
construction and situation from nests of other ground-nesting ducks. Spoonbills were 
seen occasionally throughout the summer. 
Dafila acuta. Pintail. Pair seen at Clear Lake April 10. Noted occasionally dur- 
ing the summer at Malheur, so probably breeds in small numbers, though no nests were 
identified. In fall the species began coming in from the outside about July 31 and be- 
came common the first week in August. Female with five half-grown young seen on ~ 
canal in Diamond Valley August 28. 
Marila americana. Redhead. Breeds abundantly in the tules at Malheur Lake, 
