128 THE CONDOR Vol. XVI keep the water open. The spring migration begins early in March, and the fall migration lasts until December 1, or even later. Nesting begins in late April and the first downy young may be seen early in June. (See fig. 42.) Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. Summer resident. Not very com- mon, but occurs and nests regularly. Birds are seen with broods of young in June and July. l?igration date: April 17, 1912. Mareca americana. Baldpate. Summer resident, breeding commonly about the alkaline ponds. Very abundant in migrations. Probably nests a little later than the Mallard and Gadwall. The birds occur in small flocks in the spring migrations until May, whereas the above species are usually in pairs at this season. Migration dates: April 17, 1912, and November 28, 1912. Nettion carolincase. 'Green?winged Teal. Common migrant and rather rare summer resident. Migration date: April 16, 1912. On December 27, ] 912, I secured a crippled bird that was wintering on a small spring-hole near - Choteau. The wing of this bird had been broken for a long time and had par- tially healed over, but not in a way to enable it to fly. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. Quite common summer resi- dent, particularly about the edges of ponds that are overgrown with rushes. Young seen near Choteau'July 7, 1912. Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. Common summer resident. Very abun- dant in migrations. Occurs in large flocks on the alkaline ponds in fall. gation dates: March 24, 1912, and November 9, 1912. Dafila acuta. Pintail. Summer resident and migrant. Breeds in simi- lar places to the Mallard, but much less commonly. I examined a drake of this species'that was shot by a hunter near Choteau, December 27, 1912. Marila americana. Redhead. Observed twice in migrations: September ]3, 1911, and April 17, 1.912. ' Marila valisineria. Canvasback. Cb?o n' migrant on the alkali lakes, remaining in fall until these lakes freeze over. Migration dates: April 17, ]912, and November 24, 1912. Marila affinis. Lesser Scaup Duck. Common summer resident. Breeds in the :vicinity of the alkaline ponds. Migration date: May 1, 1912. Clangula clangula americana. Golden-eye. Common migrant and win- ter resident. Abundant on the alkaline lakes in migrations, and along the rivers?all winter. Seen in spring up to May 3, 1912, and not seen in fall until November 24, 1912. Charitonetta albeola. Bufflehead. Common migrant on the alkaline ponds. Seen in spring from April 17 to May 14, 1912, and in fall from Novem- ber 9 to 24, 1912. Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. Rare summer resident in the mountains. I observed several birds on Birch Creek from May 30 to June 3, 191.2, and believe the birds were breeding there but could not find a nest, They frequented the rapids and swiftest parts of the streams, evidently living largely on fish. Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus. Snow Goose. Abundant migrant on the
alkaline ponds and lakes. Occurs in large flocks, often numbering thousands.
Flocks frequently light in the fields, apparently exhausted from long flight, and are then often killed with sticks before they can rise and fly. The people commonly call them "brant". Migration dates: April 9 to 23, 1912, October 24 to 31, 1911, and November 9 to 24, ]912.
