LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL. 179 



undoubtodly the product of at least two females, as there were 17 

 eggs of one type and 10 of another. In fact the 10 eggs may not be 

 redheads' at all, as they resemble very much the eggs of the pintail." 



The eggs of the redhead can generally be distinguished from those 

 of other species by their color, size, and texture, but I have seen eggs 

 that were jnizzling; the nest, however, is always distinctive; it is 

 built like that of the canvasback, but the down in it, which is usually 

 mixed with the reeds or flags, is vjhiter than that of the canvasback. 

 Although the down is practically white, certain portions of it have a 

 slight grayish tinge. The down in the nests of this and all other 

 species of diving ducks is more closely matted or in less v/ell-defmed, 

 flufl'y pieces than the down in the nests of the surface feeding ducks. 



The shell of the egg is extremely hard and tough, with a smooth, 

 glossy surface; it will dull the cutting edges of an egg drill in a 

 short time. The color varies from " ])ale olive buff," matching almost 

 exactly certain types of mallard's eggs, to a pale "cream buff " or 

 '^ cartridge buff." The eggs are larger than mallard's eggs and more 

 glossy and they are very different in color from canvasback's eggs. 

 Taking into account the nest, the down, and the size, color, and tex- 

 ture of the eggs, there should never be any difficulty in recognizing 

 a redhead's nest, even if the bird were not clearly seen. In shape 

 the eggs vary from a somewhat rounded to a considerably elongated 

 elliptical ovate; they are sometimes nearly oval. The measurements 

 of 79 eggs in various collections average 61.2 by 43.4 millimeters; 

 the eggs showing the four extremes measure 66.8 by 43.5, 66.2 by 

 45.5, 58 by 41.8 and 61.5 by 41.2 millimeters. Incubation is per- 

 formed b}^ the female alone and lasts for a period of 22, 23, or 24 days. 



Plumages. — The downy young is quite different from other duck- 

 lings, being more uniformly colored with less contrast between the 

 light and dark areas. The upper parts, including the crown, back, 

 rump, and tail are "light brownish olive," but the deep color of the 

 basal portion of the down is much concejiled by the light yellowish 

 tips; the side of the head and neck, including the forehead and a 

 broad stripe above the eye, are " olive-ocher" paling to "colonial 

 buff" on the throat and chin; the remainder of the under parts is 

 "colonial buff" with deeper shadings; there are shadings of "cham- 

 ois" on the sides of the head and neck, but no conspicuous dark 

 markings; in some specimens there are suffusions of brighter yellow 

 in all of the lighter-colored parts, such as " amber yellow " or "citron 

 yellov/"; there is a yellowish spot on each of the scapulars and on 

 each side of the rump. All of the colors become paler and duller as 

 the duckling increases in size. 



The plumage develo])s in the young redhead in the same sequence 

 as in the young canvasback and when 7 or 8 weeks old it is fully 

 feathered, except the wings, and is a little more than half grown. 



