RUFOUS-CRESTED DUCK. 145 



the feet, while it pulls up the grass and plants growing 

 below. It goes in small companies and does not con- 

 sort with other species. It breeds in ponds, the nest be- 

 ing placed amid rushes or flags, and is composed of 

 these plants, dead leaves, and a bed of down. The eggs, 

 which are an olive-green, vary from eight to ten. While 

 incubation proceeds, the males assemble together on the 

 water in the vicinity. Whenever the female leaves the 

 nest, she covers the eggs carefully with down. In Italy 

 this is a common species, and also in India, where it 

 keeps to the middle of the tanks, and is very 

 wary and difficult to approach. Its flesh is considered 

 excellent, and by some regarded as one of the best birds 

 for the table found in that country. 



With all its favorable qualities, both of attractive ap- 

 pearance and palatable flesh, it is to be regretted that 

 this Duck can in no wise be enrolled in our lists as be- 

 longing to North America. It is one that would be 

 much better dropped from our catalogues as an Ameri- 

 can species, and erased, with some others of equally 

 questionable standing, from our scientific works. It is 

 included in this book simply because it has been retained 

 in the Check List of the American Ornithologists' Union, 

 as it seems best to me not to omit any species given in 

 that catalogue. 



NETTA RUFINA. 



Geographical Distribution. — Eastern hemisphere. Of ques- 

 tionable occurrence in eastern United States. 



Adult Male. — Sides of head and throat, vinaceous, darkest on 

 the throat, passing into pale rufous on the front and base of 

 crest, grading into pale reddish buff on the central portion of the 

 latter. Upper part of back of neck, and all lower neck, black, 

 grading into the glossy blackish brown of the breast, belly, and 

 under tail coverts. Upper back, grayish brown, passing into 



