Nukko Lake contains plant food and animal food in the form of
molluscs sufficient for a large waterfowl population. There is
also much good nesting cover, both marsh and dry types. The willow
cover and sedge meadow,on the terminal portion of the peninsula re-
ferred to earlier, is adapted to the nesting requirements of pond
ducks and lesser scaup duck, while the bulrush marshes should agile
fill the needs of coots and some diving ducks. Nevertheless water-
fowl were scarce. The population,as observed during thorough
examinations on several days, consisted of the following: loon,

2 pairs; Holboell grebe, 9 pairs; mallard, female and brood; ring-
necked duck, 2 females and broods

Swamp Lake: 1 1/2 miles long, 1 1/4 miles wide, about one mile

east of Nukko Lake and draining into Chief Lake, some three miles

to the northwest, through a narrow, sluggish creek overhung with
shrubbery. Swamp Lake, nearly circular in shape, is surrounded by
black spruce in a belt averaging 100 yards in width. The floor of
this forest is deep in moss. Farther back is muskeg on which dwarf
birch and small black spruce is the tallest growth. Hardhack, buck-
bean, Labrador tea, dwarf willow, cottongrass Eriophorum chamissonis,
wild rosemary, cranberry, rein orchid, false asphodel, ladies! tresses,
and lousewort Pedicularis parviflora grow amongst the sphagnum. A
narrow strip of shoreline between the edge of the spruce and the water
is boggy with some growth of shrubbery and sedges. In the immediate
shallows grow yellow pond lily, and a small amount of pondweed
Potamogeton natans shows above the muddy water.

The only water birds seen here on July 5 were four downy young
ring-necked ducks, one female buffle-head and a small colony of Bona-
parte gulls that probably were nesting. These observations were made
on a cold, rainy day and from the shore only. While further inspec-
tions under more favourable conditions might have revealed a larger
population, nevertheless Swamp Lake cannot be considered of much
value as a nesting ground for waterfowl

There were few small birds in the vicinity; a song sparrow was
heard singing and Hudsonian chickadees were seen.

Forest ponds: Typical of these is a small pond in the lodgepole
pine and aspen forest between Nukko Lake and Swamp Lake. It is
fringed with willows and contains a large amount of submerged vege-
tation. Apparently no ducks were using it, the only water birds
observed being a pair of greater yellowlegs. Ponds of this type in
the Cariboo Parklands usually support three or four pairs of pond
ducks

Rubai Lake: 1/2 mile long, 1/4 mile wide, between Nukko Lake and
Chief Lake and draining into the latter. This has similar shoreline

= 265—