. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. DUCKS LSI over submerged beds of nius>els and other bi- valves, and feed upon them by diving. Being- very hardy birds, they do not go as far south in winter as many of the Ducks, Large numbers of them remain in the winter about Nantucket and Long Island. Few get as far as the southern States. This Scoter is tlie most southerly of the three in its breeding range. 1 have found quite a num- ber of their nests in North Dakota and Mani- toba. Though so hardy, they are the hist uf the water-birds to breed. Usually they finish laying from June JO to Jul
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. DUCKS LSI over submerged beds of nius>els and other bi- valves, and feed upon them by diving. Being- very hardy birds, they do not go as far south in winter as many of the Ducks, Large numbers of them remain in the winter about Nantucket and Long Island. Few get as far as the southern States. This Scoter is tlie most southerly of the three in its breeding range. 1 have found quite a num- ber of their nests in North Dakota and Mani- toba. Though so hardy, they are the hist uf the water-birds to breed. Usually they finish laying from June JO to July I. When beginning to lay, the female swims ashore, preferably on an island, and creeiJS into the thickest weeds or brush she can find near by. There she scratches a hollow, lays a very big creamy-white egg, and rakes the soil over it. Next day she digs it out, adds another, and buries both. When the set is Hear- ing completion she plucks down from her breast and lines the nest. Examining a nest of eggs before incubation begins is like digging potatoes. She sits very close, and when almost stepped on tries to scurry through the weeds to the water. Once I caught a Scoter leaving her nest. She did not act frightened, but gazed quietly at her captor. Suddenlv she gave a violent flap, sli])])ed to the ground, and managed to get to the water first. The voung are large for ducklings, clad in black and white suits of duwn, and walk almost erect, renfinding one of little men. I Ii:ri!eut K. Job. The stomachs of nine White-winged Scuters from .Massachusetts waters, examined by Mr. W. L. Mc.\tee. of the Biolnrrical Survey, contained. Pbjto H. K Ji.;i l i-uru^y m1 U,.ui,:<a i\-. râ .l^â Lâ i; Co. NEST OF WHITE-WINGED SCOTER of mussels, about 44 ]»er cent.: quohogs, 22 per cent.; periwinkles, nj per cent.; hermit cralis. q per cent.; the remainder was caddis larvs and algfe and other vegetable matter. Three birds from Nantucket had eaten only the common mussel. SURF SCOTER Oi
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Keywords: ., bookauthorpearsont, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1923
