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Very abundant; summer resident; general distribution in grassy freshwater marshes, etc.; breeds abundantly throughout the region in suitable places, from Pembina along the boundary to the Rockies (Coues). Dufferin: Arrived between April 15 and 20 (Dawson). Winnipeg: Summer resident; abundant (Hine). Ossowa: Common; breeding; 1885, first seen, two, on April 6; next seen, April 13 (Wagner). Swampy Island: 1885, first seen, two, on April 16; next seen, April 20; became common April 26; breeds here in fall; last seen October 1; 1886, first seen, two on April 16; next seen, April 17; (Plunkett). Oak Point: 1885, first seen, two, on April 7; next seen, April 8; became common on April 11; breeds here (Small). Portage la Prairie: 1884, very common; summer resident; first seen, March 30; a few sometimes remain till after the snow covers the ground (Nash). The most abundant duck of the Northwest, breeding in nearly all the marshes north of the boundary (Macoun). Carberry: Abundant in migration; a few breed; Souris Plain; Turtle Mountain; Long River; Fingerboard; near Rapid City; near Two Rivers; Pine River; Portage la Prairie (Thompson). Brandon: April 13, 1882 (Wood). Dalton: 1889, first seen, four, on March 21; next seen on March 23; became common on March 26; breeds here (Youmans). Shell River: Common summer resident; breeds; in 1885, first seen, twelve, on April 6; afterwards seen every day (Calcutt). Qu’Appelle: Common summer resident; breeds April 5 to 15 (Guernsey). Trout Lake Station and Severn House (Murray). Near Cumberland House are found in vast multitudes (Hearne, 1773).

June 11: While roaming in Spruce Bush, to-day, I came suddenly across a wild duck (Mallard) with her newly hatched brood. She was leading them to the water, which was a considerable distance away, perhaps a quarter of a mile, and in this locality the forest was high and dry. The old duck ran to meet me and then put in practice all the usual stratagems to cover the retreat of her brood; meanwhile the little ones scattered and ran, “peeping” in all directions, and soon all had hidden themselves from view, except five, which I caught. The remaining four or five I did not try to get, but left them for the mother to gather together again. My little captives I took home with me, fondly believing I could rear them.

On October 30, 1886, saw three Mallard at Smith’s Lake. I have often lain in the long grass on the bank of some pond and watched the whole family as they played about on the glassy surface, now splashing the water over the backs, apparently to show how they mean to do it when they are big rather than for any present benefit, and now rushing pattering over the surface in pursuit of some passing fly and generally with success crowning the effort, for when young they feed almost exclusively on insect food. I touched one of the tall stems so that the top shook; the watchful mother failed not to observe that there was something in the rushes, and slowly led her brood in another direction; or if I stood up in full view, she gave to her startled brood the watchword of alarm, which to judge from her actions may be translated “scatter and run for your lives into the rushes while I divert the brute’s attention.”

There have been times when it was the necessity for food that led me where I have observed such scenes as that described, but I can say truly that each time the brave mother was allowed to go in peace and the hunt was prolonged until another though perhaps a less palatable victim was found and sacrificed.

They arrive early in April, frequently before the lakes or large sloughs are free from ice, resorting to the wet prairies and stubble-fields; the great bulk are paired when they reach here and they soon commence nesting, their nests being made in all sorts of places. I have found them in the marshy sloughs on the open prairie, near water usually, and once in the bush at least a half a mile from a very small stream that always dried up during the summer, but which was the only water for a long distance.

About the middle of May the females commence to set; the drakes then molt, losing their brilliant plumage; whilst undergoing this change they gather together into small flocks of about five or six and hide themselves in the rushes, from which it is very hard to dislodge them even with good dogs.

In September they gather into flocks, young and old together, and visit the wheat and barley stubbles, rapidly becoming fat; the drakes at this time begin to show the green feathers on their heads, and by the time they leave they have acquired their perfect plumage.

A few frequently remain for some little time after the snow has covered the ground; these I have seen feeding around the base of the stacks and resorting to Lake Manitoba for water; in 1885 they were abundant up to November 9, but left on the day, after, for on the 11th I saw the last of the season, a single bird only.

On the 15th of September, 1892, I shot a large drake, which had pure white pinion feathers and a broad band of white from the usual ring around the neck to the breast; this bird was with seven others, all of the usual color and size. (Nash, in MSS.)