M.lirgus amorieanus. 
230 
1873. Ij 
|i Maine (Lake IJrrbagog ). 
Aug. 1. ; Five young birds abouit half grovm v/e re shot in the 
ij Tyler Co Vo. 
Sept.18.j George Hayv/ard, one of the trapprs, tells ms that 
Sheldrake regularly winter here in snail numbers, fishin;- 
rapids v/-here the v/ater does not freeze. 
1876. 
Juno 8. 
II 
A pair flying about the stubs near the mouth of Ra¬ 
pid ''liver. 
1879. 
Juno 6. George Hayward tells me that this species sits very 
closely. He once sav/ a female enter a hole in a tall 
dead stub. As the tree could t^ot be safely climbed ho 
cut it dovm. The incessant blows of the axe did not 
, start ibhe bird and it was not until the stub came crash¬ 
ing dovm that she came out. She v/as in 3 d me way injured 
by the fall and he caught her. 
" 15.' Sheldrake, Alva Coolidge tells me that he has found 
i! the eggs of this Duck in a cavity \7hich descends teti !’oot 
'I from the entrance hole. 
1880. ji 
May. 20, !j 
Sept. 16. ' 
A beautiful adult male flying over B Meadows. 
A large flock in the Androscoggin near Leonard’s 
Pond, splashing abovit in the v/ater apd clias ing one ar.cth— 
er. T'y guide drove them past me. They came very swif - 
IMi before the norM\ —v7ost v/ind, I dropped t''.,''o, 
one of which dove and did not again appear; the o tlier 
started dovm river for the Lake, running on the suffaco 
as they do 'vlicn moulting, and going at a tremendous pace; 
it 'vas absolutely useless to c'lase him. 
1881. 
May 19. An adult male given me in the flesh, Irides da,rk 
jj hut redish—naae 1, bill bla.ck s,long the ridge of culmen 
li dull red on its sides; tarsi a-j d toes dull coral-rod; ’ 
:i webs brovmish-orange; breast and under-parts beautiful 
rich salmon when freshly killed, fading rapidly after— 
|; v/aras. Alva tells mo that the plumage of tlie male 
'i Sheldrake fades as soon as the eggs are laid; ho does 
not consider the proserit sp''cimen lAoarly as ha,nds. rne as 
; they are early in the season. 
A-11. Nest in hollow pine stub standing in 
i the water. The hole descended about ten feet and the 
, Qggs, lying on totton vrood, were surrounded by the usual 
;| down._ A now dam at the Outlet has brought the water 
' of this Lake about three inches above its highest pre- 
:| vious level. The bird apparently did not calculate on 
|l this, for the nest v/as flooded ax\d tlie eggs just covered 
v/ith water; she was sitting on them, hovxe ver, and the 
