68 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vot.30

but there were at least twenty or twenty-five adults of each sex settled
there at the beginning of the nesting season, and eight or ten broods of
ducklings appeared upon the lake later on.

On June 1, at Lake Como, the scoters were all in pairs, and they
continued so until near the end of the month. On June 29 the first
small flocks of males were seen leaving for the coast; some remained
inland until near the end of the summer.

On July 20 the first brood of young was seen, others following
within a few days. Broods counted consisted of eight or nine duck-
lings, but counts had to be made soon after hatching, for the broods
quickly merged into loosely assembled flocks so that it was not long
possible to keep track of separate families. Sometimes two or three
adults were seen in attendance upon sixteen or twenty young, and
once a single duck appeared leading thirty-two small ducklings across
the lake. The young were very self-reliant, and sometimes six or eight
would be found foraging independently, unattended by any old bird.
Thus this colony of white-winged scoters led a markedly communistic
existence, individuals, young and old, gathering together into larger
or smaller groups as suited their convenience at the time. The scaups,
too, had as little seeming regard for family ties, their habits in these
matters being much the same as with the scoters.

Young scoters but a day or two old were seen diving expertly,
making long stays below the surface. Old birds, carefully watched
through binoculars, were frequently seen to make use of their wings
as they dived, but this was not invariably the case. White-winged
scoters to the number of twenty or more were still on Lake Como on
September 19, the last day I visited the lake.

Four specimens were preserved, ducklings not more than two or
three days old (nos. 44645-44648).

Oidemia perspicillata (Linnaeus). Surf Scoter

An adult male that was seen on Lake Atlin, opposite the town, on
July 21 and on several days following, was the only surf scoter
encountered during the summer.

Branta canadensis (Linnaeus), subsp.? Canada Goose
Canada geese were migrating in some numbers at Gladys Lake,
September 8, and they were abundant at certain points on Lake Teslin,
September 10 to 18. A flock of about fifty passed over Atlin on