326 
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 
case of the female, she may'then show her concern by flying in wide circles n ear the 
nest; and this she is especially likely to do when the maternal instinct has become 
strouff by long brooding. But should the nest contain only a few newly-laid oggs, 
much less apprehension is displayed, and then she flies straight away to remain in hi - 
ing for some hours, or until completely reassured. Often, under the latter circum¬ 
stances, the nest is never reoccupied, but a second begun after a delay, of twenty-foui 
hours or so. . . 
Soon after being hatched, the downy young are led by their parents, not into open 
water, where would follow a well-understood danger from hawks and other enemies, 
but into the shallow inlets, where they can be screened by the heavy covert of reeds; 
and they are not allowed to venture out of these until able to shift tor themselves. I 
think that for the first few nights after being hatched tbe tender young are led back 
and brooded in the nest. But the interval during which the young are most exposed 
to danger is in the “ flapper” state, or when they have attained considerable size, but 
have not yet received thepower of flight, for the rectrices, as is well known, are the 
last feathers to be developed. They now flap along the surface of the water in a curi¬ 
ous sort of way, half flying, half swimming, and when cornered in shallow water, as 
may often be done, they fall easy prey. This is the accepted time of feasting for 
numerous species of hawks, not to mention such formidable four-footed enemies as 
coyotes, foxes, etc., while most to be feared of all is its human foe in the shape of the 
Indian. Armed with clubs, the boys and squaws enter the shallows, and by beating 
the reeds drive the voung before them till they are congregated in some favorable 
spot, when they are'slaughtered by the scores. I have seen Indians returning from 
one of these ducking expeditions fairly loaded down with spoil, the young ducks 
han^ino- by the necks in festoons, and almost hiding by their numbers the dusky bodies 
of their slaughterers. Ducks’ eggs and ducklings form in fact during summer no small 
part of the'Indians’fare. . . . , . 
Probably none of the mallards raised in this region pass the winter here, but migrate 
south, and are replaced by more northern-born birds, so that about the numerous 
warm springs and ponds of open water the mallards are to be found throughout cold 
weather, uniil spring once more impels them northward. 
Dafiea Leach. 
D. acuta (L.). Pin Tail. 
Abundant during the migrations; one breed. 
Chaueelasmus Gray. 
C. streperus (L.). Gadwall. 
This fine duck breeds abundantly throughout this region. 
Mareca Stephens. 
M. americana (Gin.). American Widgeon. 
Breeds more or less commonly in this region ; most abundant as a migrant. 
Querquedula Stephens. 
Q. carolinensis (Gin.). Green-wing Teal. 
Scattered pairs of this teal breed over all this region, and in some localities it is 
doubtless numerous. „ . , , » , . ... _, 
While crossing the desert north of Reno, early in July, we found in the solitary pool 
of water, which with its scanty growth of green rushes forms the only oasis for miles 
around, a family of this teal consisting of a female and ten young. The pool being of 
too small extent to furnish shelter in such danger, the mother bird led the band to the 
shore and directly into the sage-brush, into which they dived and hid as though lully 
alive to the emergency of the case. ... , , . 
This teal is most abundant as a spring and fall migrant, its proclivities hence being 
for more northern summer grounds. 
Q. discors (L.). Blue-winged Teal. 
This species was not seen at all during the summer; nor, as a migrant, does it appear 
to be as numerous in this region as either of its congeners. 
Q. cyanoptera (V.). Cinnamon Teal. 
This teal is one of the few ducks whose range is so far circumscribed that it may be 
spoken of in general terms as a western species, the area occupied by it, even during 
the migratory seasons, not extending to the east of the Rocky Alountains, except in 
