Congdon*—Saskatchewan Birds. 
587 
153. Buffle-head. 
Charitonetta albeola (Linn.). 
The Buffle-head, or Bhtter-ball as it is called by many, is a 
common bird in this region, particularly about some of the 
timber-bordered lakes. The nesting site of this duck is, like 
that of the Wood Duck, the hollow of a tree or stub. Xo nests 
were discovered. 
167. Buddy Duck. 
Erismatum rubida (Wils.). 
The Buddy is another of the more beautiful ducks observed. 
The general color of the male, chestnut, with the contrast of 
black and white, make him a beautiful bird. The Buddy 
seemed rather more wary than some of the birds and rarely 
allowed one L> approach within gun range. The nest of this 
duck is a basket-like affair of rushes or grass half floating on 
the water, and partly supported by the reeds among which it is 
built. It is deeply hollowed and lined with grass of finer 
rushes and a little down from the bird’s breast. It is very 
similar in situation and construction to the nests of both the 
Canvas-back and 1 the Bedhead. In no case was the parent bird 
seen leaving the nest, and some of the nests were almost stepped 
on before they were seen because of their nearly complete con¬ 
cealment in the thick, tall grass. Perhaps it is safe to say that, 
in general, the nests of the Buddy Duck were found in taller, 
thicker grass, nearer the borders of sloughs, than the Canvas- 
back’s and Bedhead’s nests, and more perfectly hidden from 
view. A nest, found June 27, containing ten eggs, was of an 
average size. It measured eighteen inches outside diameter, 
seven and one-half inches inside diameter; seven inches outside 
depth, and four inches inside depth. The nest shown in Plate 
XLYII is hardly a typical nest of the Buddy, being too flat. 
The number of eggs found in a set was from six to ten. In 
most cases, incubation had begun by the middle of June. The 
eggs of the Buddy are rather peculiar, for duck’s eggs. In color 
they are almost pure white when freshly laid, but become stained 
and soiled from contact with the nest. The shell is coarse¬ 
grained and pitted. Their shape is oval, slightly larger at one 
