OF NORTH AMERICA. 5t 
better exemplified than in this instance. Her 
neck is of a beautiful purplish-red shading 
into velvety-black upon the sides of the head, 
and this color can be traced back to the wings ; 
the back and top of head are gray, becoming 
lighter at the base of the tail, and the wings 
are slightly darker. Under parts pure white, 
breast shaded with buff. Eyes brown, bill 
and feet black; in size larger than either of 
the others of the family. 
The male is much smaller, and, although 
he has about the same marks, they are not so 
bright. The young, and the old birds in 
winter, are light-gray above, white beneath, 
and breast shaded darker. 
These birds are exceedingly rare in the 
East, but quite common in the interior and 
westward. 
They are to be found on the ponds and 
marshes, and feed upon the insects and snails. 
All these birds are at home upon.the water, 
but seldom or never dive. 
This pecuharity of the sexes has given 
vise to many tales of female supremacy and 
domination, but I fear that it will follow 
those of the song of the dying swan, * It’s all 
in your eye.” 
Although, perhaps, these birds do not come 
distinctly within the limits of my definition 
of game, I never saw a sportsman who would 
not shoot one, and should consider him lack- 
ing in mental capacity if he did not. 
