BIRDS OF 



a patch of white on the forehead and another on the nape, none on the wing. 

 About the size of a Scoter. Female : — Smaller ; bill black ; feet, dark, tinged 

 with reddish, webs black ; plumage, sooty-brown, below silvery-gray, two 

 whitish patches on each side of the head. 



Hab. Coasts and larger inland waters of Northern North America ; in 

 winter south to the Carolinas, the Ohio River, and Lower California. 



According to Audubon this species breeds on the coast of Labrador, 

 making a nest of grass lined with feathers. The eggs, 4 to Gin number, are 

 Mrhitish, and are hatched in July. 



The Surf Scoter is found on Lake Ontario mostly in spring 

 in company with the preceding which it resembles in habits, the 

 clear white patches in marked contrast to the deep black of the 

 plumage, serving even at a distance to mark its presence in a 

 flock. It is never numerous, though more frequently seen than 

 the Scoter. 



Genus ERISMATURA Box.\parte. 



58. ERISMATURA RUBIDA (Wils.). 1G7. 



Ruddy Duck. 



The male in perfect plumage with neck all round, and the upper-parts 

 brownish-red, the lower-parts silky-white watered with dusky, the chin and 

 sides of the head dead-white, the crown and nape black, but not often seen in 

 this condition in the United States ; as generally observed, and the female at 

 all times, brown above, finely dotted and waved with dusky, paler and duller 

 below with undulations and sometimes a slight tawny tinge, as also occurs 

 on the side of head ; crown and nape dark-brown ; crissum always white. 

 Length, 14-17 ; wing, 5-6 ; tarsus, ij. 



Hab. North America in general, south to Cuba, Guatemala and 

 Northern South America, breeding throughout most of its North American 

 range. 



I once saw a waggon load of Ruddy Ducks exposed for sale 

 in the Hamilton market ; it was in the month of Ma)', and a 

 large flock had got entangled in the nets in Lake Ontario, where 

 they had tarried for rest and refreshment while on their way to 

 their summer haunts farther north. The fishermen, regardless 

 of grammar and other considerations, still maintain that " all is 

 fish that comes in the net," and they tried hard to make the 



68 



