Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



335 



The Lesser Scaup Duck is abundant on Lake Michigan and in the 

 interior waters of Ilhnois and Wisconsin during the migrations. It 

 may occasionally breed in Illinois, and, according to Kumlien and 

 Hollister, it breeds in Wisconsin. The nest is on the ground, usually 

 composed of grass and lined with down. The eggs are 7 to 10, grayish 

 buff or olive buff, and measure about 2.25 x 1.60 inches. 



"An exceedingly abundant migrant, and in years when the Lake 

 does not become frozen over, is a resident through the year. '■'■'• * ■'•= * 

 About the time they leave for more northern breeding grounds, they 

 congregate in very large flocks on rivers or small lakes and soon 

 all have disappeared from these haunts, and none, except the 

 comparatively few which remain to breed, are found there again 

 until they return in Autumn, about the 5th to loth of October." 

 (Nelson, Birds of N. E. Illinois, 1876, p. 141.) "An exceedingly 

 abundant migrant both spring and fall. * * "•= * To a limited extent 

 a breeding species even in southern Wisconsin, having been known to 

 nest anywhere from the southern counties northward." (Kumlien 

 and Hollister, Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, p. 23.) 



55. Marila collaris (Donov.). 



Ring-necked Duck. 



Aythya collaris (Donov.), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, P- 53- 

 Distr.: North America, breeding chiefly from North Dakota to 

 the Athabaska region and migrating south in winter to the Gulf 

 coast, the Greater Antilles, Lower California, and Mexico. 



Adult male: Head and neck, upper breast, and tipper hack, black, 



usually showing faint bluish reflections when -held in the light. In 



the breeding season the male has an orange 



chestnut collar, which is usually lacking later in 



the season^; belly, white, with 



the lower belly finely lined with 



blackish; speculum, gray; bill. 



dusky, showing a faint bluish 



gray band near the end. 



Adult female: Head, brown- 

 ish, the sides mixed with grayish 

 brown shading into whitish on 

 face about base of the bill; belly, whitish, becoming grayish on the 

 lower portion; bill, as in the male. Resembles the female Redhead 

 Duck, but is smaller. 



Length, 17; wing, 8; bill, 2. 



The Ring-necked Duck is common in Illinois and Wisconsin 



