THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
27 
birds (1) does not even mention one of these three species of 
scoters as found in the state. 
Erismatura jamaicensis (Gnicl.). RLDDY DUCK. 
Common migrant, but not nearly as abundant as formerly. 
Until within a few years this duck was considered almost 
worthless for food by most people, and, as a consequence, 
escaped systematic hunting, especially as it seldom decoys or 
flies past a blind. It has, however, suddenly sprung into favor 
among sportsmen and will soon be rare. A duck of peculiar 
habits, it is not well adapted to "hold its own" against the 
warfare now waged upon it. A rather late arrival in southern 
Wisconsin, it moves southward again as soon as the ice forms. 
A few breed in the state, as about Lake Koshkonong, 
Pewaukee Lake, Lake Horicon (Goss), etc., but sparingly 
of late. 
Nomonyx dominions (Linn.). MASKED DUCK. 
Accidental. A single female was procured by Thure 
Kumlien on Rock River, near Newville, November, 1870, "and 
is now preserved in the collection of the Boston Society of 
Natural History" (2). 
Chen hyperborea (Poll). LESSER SNOW GOOSE. 
Migrant. Snow geese were formerly very abundant during 
the spring and fall migrations in Wisconsin, but of late years 
have so diminished in numbers that at the present time they are 
almost rare. Both species occur, in about equal numbers, so 
that what is said of one, applies equally to the other. More 
often met along the Mississippi River than in the interior or on 
Lake Michigan, especially in the fall, of late years. A few 
flocks still regularly pass up the eastern half of the state in 
spring, but it is a mere fraction of the former numbers. Nearly 
always associated with C. coerulesccns and A. a. gambeU. 
Chen hyperborea nivalis (Forst.J. GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 
Migrant, formerly abundant, now rather rare. We should 
say that possibly fifty per cent, of the snow geese taken in 
Wisconsin are intermediate between this variety and the last. 
Occasional flocks are seen passing high overhead, but of which 
form it is of course impossible to determine. Of the specimens 
examined, taken during the past sixty years and mostly when 
1. "Geology of Wis.," 1873-1879, Vol. T, p. 441-610. 
2. North. Am. Birds, B., B. and R. 
