THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 57 



Jersey, being seen along the coast from the latter part of 

 October to the middle of November, although occasionally 

 stray specimens are found later in the winter. Its cry is 

 confined to a very low quack heard only at night. It 

 feeds principally on mud flats and in shallow fresh water 

 marshes and its flesh is considered excellent for the table. 



Mfuck^ Redhend, — Length, from nineteen to twenty- 

 three inches ; extent, two feet and six inches ; bill, one 

 and three-fourths inches. In all plumages resembles the 

 Canvasback, but is distinguished by the much darker 

 back, which is dark gray instead of nearly white. The 

 bill is also shorter than in the Canvasback and does not 

 run so far up on the forehead. 



It builds its nest on the ground, in marshes near water. 

 The number of eggs is from six to twelve, of a dull white 

 color, two and two-fifths by one and three-fourths inches 

 in size. It breeds north of Maine and in winter migrates 

 as far south as Mexico. It is an occasional visitor to New 

 Jersey from the first of November to the first of March. 

 Its food is principally vegetable, being the stems of grass- 

 es in salt and brackish water. Its flesh is considered a 

 table delicacy. 



M^Hck^ Rin§^-iierked.—Leugth, sixteen and a half 

 inches ; extent, twenty-eight inches : bill, one and four- 

 fifths inches. The head is black and there is a chestnut 

 collar around the neck. The back is l)lack; the breast 

 is black ; the belly is white, with fine black lines over 

 the lower part and sides. In the female brown takes 

 the place of black in the plumage. It builds its nest 

 on the ground, in marshes near water. The eggs are 

 from six to twelve in number, of a dull bluish white, 

 two and one-fourth by one and three-fifths inches in 

 size. It breeds north of the United States and in win- 

 ter goes as far south as Guatemala. It is scarce in 

 New Jersey, although a few are occasionally seen on the 

 rivers and bays between November and March. 



