Sept., 1920 NOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF INTERIOR ALASKA 177 
Mareca americana. Baldpate. One was seen in a lake near Lake Minchumina, 
May 9, 1912, swimming in the open water outside the ice. 
Nettion carolinense. Green-winged Teal. A number were noted in pairs near the 
head of the North Fork of the Kuskokwim in the spring of 1912, being first observed on 
May 4. One was seen July 3 in a lake at the junction with the McKinley Fork. August 
13 to 30 they were numerous in flocks on the lower Kuskokwim from a short distance 
below Aniak to Bethel. August 31 to September 2 they were found on the lakes and 
sloughs of the Kuskokwim-Yukon portage. On September 4 they were abundant in flocks 
cn:-Talbiksok Creek near Russian Mission-on-the-Yukon. A specimen was taken August 
23, 1911, at Fairbanks by.C. J. Roach. They feed chiefly in sedges and equisetum along 
the shores of lakes, rivers, and sloughs, and frequently come out on mud-bars or gravel- 
bars to rest. 
Dafila acuta. Pintail. Numerous in the spring of 1912 in lakes and sloughs near 
the head of the North Fork of the Kuskokwim, where! they were first noted on May 13. 
August 13 to 30 they were abundant on the equisetum-covered mud-bars of the lower 
Kuskokwim from a short distance below Aniak to Bethel, occurring in large flocks asso- 
ciated with mallards. In August, 1911, a hunter shot a complete albino near Fairbanks. 
Marila, sp. Scaup. A pair of scaups were seen in a lake near the head of the 
North Fork of the Kuskokwim, June 9, 1912, but the species could not be determined. 
Clangula clangula americana. Golden-eye. Common in the spring of 1912 in the 
lakes and streams near the head of the North Fork of the Kuskokwim. The first pair 
was seen May 7. No birds in male plumage were seen after June 1. June 20 to 30 
groups of females and young were abundant on the North Fork down to the junction 
with the McKinley Fork, being especially numerous in sluggish parts of the stream. 
July 8 a few were seen above the junction with the East Fork. A female and four young 
not able to fly were seen August 15 in a slough below Kaltshak. Several adults were 
seen on the Kuskokwim-Yukon portage, August 31. 
Charitonetta albeola. Bufflehead. The most abundant breeding duck of the 
lakes near the head of the North Fork of the Kuskokwim. The first pair for 1912 ar- 
rived April 28. Soon thereafter almost every small lake of the region had been pre- 
empted by a pair of these ducks, and on the larger lakes several pairs could be found. 
‘Lhey were noted rarely on the river. On July: 1 one was seen on the North Fork near 
the junction with the McKinley Fork, but none was found west of this point. 
Usually the Buffleheads seemed to dwell in harmony with the other ducks, but 
on one occasion a male was seen to attack a seemingly peaceful male Pintail. They 
were often observed diving in the lakes for their food. The weight of a male averages 
about 16 ounces. 
A male watched May 3 in a small lake spent a great deal of time cleaning him- 
self, using his bill for the purpose. In reaching the feathers of the belly he had to lie 
almest on his back in the water. For cleaning the head and neck a foot was used while 
the bird floated on his side. During the whole process of cleaning the female floated 
unconcernedly alongside. 
The Buffleheads are very trustful ducks and can usually be approached closely 
before they fly. When alarmed both sexes have the habit of repeatedly jerking the head 
forward, a motion that is quite independent of any action in swimming. When suddenly 
alarmed they usually dive rather than fly. As a rule they are silent; only on a few 
occasions were any calls heard. Once while driving a pair in front of a blind to take 
pictures, the male and female became separated. Then the male gave a squeaky call, 
which the female answered with a hoarse quack, quack, and the male immediately flew 
to her side. At another time a female alighted in an eddy of the river and gave a low 
call, quk, quk, quk, quk, quk, quk, quk, slowly, and the male in a few minutes appeared 
and alighted beside her. 
Harelda hyemalis. Old-squaw. A few pairs were observed in lakes and sloughs 
near the head of the North Fork of the Kuskokwim during the spring of 1912. A male 
was seen first on May 27. The notes of a male heard while he was swimming in a 
slough were: a soft kwaw, a gurgling kwaw-how, and a loud explosive kwaw kwaw houw- 
wik, with a sharp accent on the last syllable. The last call is sometimes varied by 
leaving off the first two syllables, making it merely how-wik. Several times in the 
