BIRDS OF KA^'SAS. 91 



diameter by two and a half in depth. The borders of this inner 

 cup were lined with the down of the bird, in the same manner as 

 the Eider Duck's nest, and in it lay five eggs, 2.31x1. 63; about 

 equally rounded at both ends, perfectly smooth, and of a pale 

 yellowish or cream color. ' ' The North American Water Birds ' ' 

 reports that Mr. MacFarlane found the birds breeding in con- 

 siderable numbers in the neighborhood of Fort Anderson, and 

 describes a nest, containing eight eggs, found June 25th, as 

 placed on a ridge of ground at the foot of a dry, stunted pine, 

 made of dark colored down, being entirely concealed from view 

 by the lower branches of the pine tree. All of the nests found 

 appear to have been of the same style and pattern, and nothing 

 is said of any other material than down being used in building 

 them. The number of eggs varied from five to eight, but the 

 latter number was found in only a single instance. 



Gexus ERISMATURA Boxaparte. 



"Bill about as loug as the head (much longer than the tarsus), very broad, 

 widened toward the end, elevated at the base, the nostril very small, and situa- 

 ted very near the culmen; maxillary unguis very small, narrow and linear, the 

 terminal half bent abruptly downward and backward, so as to be invisible from 

 above; tail more than half as long as the wings, much graduated, consisting of 

 eighteen very stiff, narrow feathers, with the shafts strong and rigid, and 

 grooved underneath, toward the base; the tail coverts extremely short, scarcely 

 covering the base of the tail; wings very short, and very concave beneath, the 

 primaries scarcely or not at all extended beyond the tertials; tarsus very short, 

 much less than one-half as loug as the longest toe." 



Erismatura rubida (Wils.). 



RUDDY DUCK. 

 PLATE Vn. 



Summer resident; rare; during migration quite common. 

 Arrive the last of March to last of April; return late in the fall. 



B. 609. H. 634. C. 741. G. 299, 41. U. 167. 



Habitat. North America in general; south to Cuba and 

 northern South America; breeding nearly throughout its range, 

 but chiefly northward. 



Sp. Char. ''Adult male, full plumage: Pileum and upper half of the nape 

 uniform black: entire side of the head, below the eyes, including the malar and 

 chin, pure white; rest of neck, entire upper parts, sides and flanks rich chest- 

 nut rufous or purplish ferruginous: wing coverts and middle of the rump dusky 



