NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 151 



breeding season, but is found to breed chiefly in the United States. The 

 nest is made on the ground, of grass, weeds, feathers, etc., and the bird 

 has been known to nest in trees. 



Hab. Nearly cosmopolitan. In North America breeds chiefly within the United States. 



605. Pintail — dafila acuta. Dull grayish-olive, without any buff or 

 creamy shade; elongate ellipsoidal in shape; six to twelve in number, and 

 measure from 2. lo to 2.30 long by about 1.52 broad. The Pintail Duck 

 or Sprig-tail inhabits the whole of the Northern Hemisphere. It is dis- 

 tributed throughout North America at large, breeding from the northern 

 parts of the United States northward, and migrates as far south as 

 Panama and Cuba. The Sprig-tail is one of the easiest of the ducks for 

 sportsmen to bring to bag; when alarmed they will arise and cluster con- 

 fusedly together, giving the gunner a fair opportunity of raking them with 

 advantage. They are abundant in the States during the spring and fall 

 migrations. The male may be known by its long central tail-feathers. 

 The nest is made on the ground in marshy places, of grass, weeds, etc. 



Hab. Northern Hemisphere. 



607. Baldpate — mareca Americana. Pale buff; eight to twelve in 

 number; measuring about 2.00 by 1.50, with slight variations. The 

 American Widgeon or Baldpate inhabits North America at large, breed- 

 ing anywhere in suitable localities. This is one of the neatest of our 

 ducks and may be known by the spotted neck and head, the latter is white 

 on top ; the speculum green and black ; the lower neck, scapulars, 

 sides 'and upper breast chestnut-red, tinged with ashy, finely banded 

 all but the breast with dark brown. The greater upper wing coverts 

 are white tipped with black and the under parts are pure white; the 

 bill and feet are grayish-blue. The female is similar but lacks the 

 white crown and iridescence on the head. The young resemble 

 adult females. There is a great variation in the normal coloration 

 of the plumage, aside from age or sex, but as Dr. Coues says: "the bird 

 cannot be mistaken under any condition ; the extensive white of the under 

 parts and wings is recognizable at gun-range." The nest of this species 

 is made on the ground in marshes, composed of grass and weeds, neatly 

 arranged and nicely hollowed ; it is usually lined with the down and feathers 

 from the breast of the bird. 



Hab. North America, from the Arctic Ocean sonth to Guatemala and Cuba. 



608. Shoveller — spatula clypeata. Greenish-gray or faintly bluish; 

 elliptical; six to ten in number; averaging in size about 2.10 by 1.50. 

 This peculiar-looking duck inhabits North America at large and breeds 

 throughout its range in suitable places ; wintering chiefly in the south. It 



