CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
297 
on the rotten wood, and covered with dead leaves and a few feathers. 
This duck is here very poor eating, tough and lean. Obtained at Sitka by 
BischolF. From the scalps of these ducks the natives prepare various 
ornaments for their dress. , D. 
143. JDafila acuta Jenyns. (578.) Pintail. Common on the small 
ponds on the Island of St. Michael's and the adjacent mainland. B. 
Extremely common on all parts of the Yukon, and on the marshes 
near the seacoast. In the early spring, arriving about May Ist at Nulato, 
it is gregarious ; but as soon as it coinniences to breed, about May 20th, 
or later, they are generally found solitary or in pairs. Their nest is 
usually in the sedge, lined with dry grass, and, in the absence of both 
parents, is covered with dry leaves and feathers. They fly more swiftly 
than any other duck, and are hard to hit on the wing. They lay from 
six to ten or even twelve eggs ; and as soon as the young are hatched, 
they withdraw from the river into the small creeks and rivulets, where 
they remain till the ducklings are fully able to fly, when all repair to the 
great marshes, where, on the roots of the horsetail (JEquisetum), they grow 
so fat that they frequently can not raise themselves above the water. 
They leave for warmer latitudes about the end of September. This 
species is excellent for the table. Also obtained at Sitka and Kadiak by 
Bischoflr. D. 
144. Nettion carolinensis Baird. (SVO.) Green-winged Teal. Very 
common at St. Michael's. B. 
This beautiful little duck is one of the early comers, and one of the 
first to lay. I have obtained the eggs from a nest of dry grass in a 
sedge tussock, about May 20th, at Nulato. It is solitary in its habits, 
except while migrating. It is far superior to any other duck for the table. 
It lays a large number, sometimes sixteen or eighteen eggs. It has been 
obtained from Sitka and Kadiak by Bischoif, and is not rare any where 
in the Yukon Territory. D. 
145. Querqnedula (It scors Ste\)h. (581.) Blue-winged Teal. Found 
at Fort Yukon and at the Yukon mouth sparingly. Not observed at 
Nulato. Captain Smith saw it aud obtained the eggs from near Cape 
Romanzofi". D. 
Not very abundant, but not uncommon. Several specimens were seen 
in the hands of the hunters in the early spring. B. 
146. Spatula cli/j>eata Bo'ie. (583.) Shoveller. This species is said 
to breed at one point in the canal, between the Island of St. Michael's 
and the mainland. I liave never seen it alive, but obtained a skin from 
one killed at Unalaklik. It can not be abundant any where near the 
Yukon. I>. 
I have frequently seen this species among the birds brouglit in by the 
hunters of the Fort during the month of May, at St. Michael's. B. 
38 
