112 SEA DUCKS.

Nest, on the ground, in grassy sloughs or marshy lake sides. Eggs, six to ten, pale olive-buff, 254 x 1-71.

This is one of our most common Bay Ducks. While with us it seems to prefer salt and brackish water. It feeds largely on mollusks, which it obtains by diving. Its note is said to be a discordant scaup.

149. Aythya. am (Eyt.). Lassen SCAUP DUCK; LITTLE BLACK- HEAD; LITTLE BLUEBILL; CREEK BROADBILL. Ad. 6 .—Similar to the pre- ceding species but smaller, the head, as a rule, glossed with purplish instead of greenish, and the flanks strongly instead of faintly marked with wavy black bars. Ad. 9 .—Similar to the 9 of the preceding species, but smaller. 5 L., 1650; W., 8'00; Tan, 1'35; B., 1'60; greatest width of B., '95. 9 L., 16'50; W., 7'60; Tan, 1'30; B., 1'55; greatest width of B., '90.

Remarka—The Scaup Ducks resemble each other so closely that it is sometimes impossible to tell them apart, but they may generally be distin- guished by the characters given above.

Range—North America; breeds only in the interior, rarely from Iowa and commonly from Manitoba northward; not common on the Atlantic coast north of Massachusetts; winters from Virginia to the Greater Antilles.

Washington, not uncommon W. R., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, common '1‘. V. Sing Sing, common T. V., Jan. 28 to Apl.12; Aug. 31 to Nov. Cam- bridge, common in Oct. and Nov.; rare in spring.

Nest, on the ground, in grassy sloughs and marshy lake sides. Eggs, six to ten, similar in color to those of the preceding, 2'25 x 1-58.

This species has much the same habits as the preceding, but is more often found in fresh water, and I think is more southern in its distri—

bution during the Winter. It is by far the most abundant Duck in Florida waters at that season, where it occurs in enormous flocks in the rivers and bays along the coasts.

150. Aythya. collaris (001100.). RING—NECKED DUCK. Ad. 6 .— Chin white ; head, neck, breast, and upper back black, the head with bluish reflections, the neck with a not sharply defined chestnut collar; back and scapulars black, speculum gray; upper and under tail—coverts black, belly white, lower belly and sides finely barred with wavy black lines; bill black, the base and a band across the end bluish gray. Ad. 9 .——Upper parts fus- cous brown, more or less margined with oehraceous; speculum gray ,' sides of the head and neck mixed grayish brown and white; breast, sides, and lower belly grayish brown, more or less margined with ochraceous; upper belly white or whitish; bill blackish, an indistinct band of bluish gray across its end. L., 16'50; W., 7'50; 'l‘ar., 1'25; 13., 1'80.

Remarks—The male Ring-neck may be known from any of its allies by its chestnut collar and other excellent characters: the female resembles the female Redhead, but is smaller and generally browner.

Range—North America, breeding only in the interior from Iowa north- ward; not common on the Atlantic coast north of Virginia.