ANDERSON — THE BIRDS OF IOWA. l8l 



Genus Erismatura .Bonaparte. 



55. (167). Erismatura rtibida (Gmel.). Ruddy Duck. 



The Ruddy Duck is quite generally distributed over Iowa dur- 

 ing the spring and fall migrations, but appears to be somewhat 

 locally distributed and in irregular numbers. A few undoubtedly 

 breed in favored localities in the state. Dr. B. H. Bailey writes: 

 "I did not personally collect eggs of the Ruddy Duck, but am 

 positive that they nest at Eagle Lake (Hancock county), as they 

 are there in full breeding plumage and the boys there have found 

 their nests. I shot a mal6 in full plumage there about June 15, 

 1903." 



County records: Blackhawk — "rare migrant" (Walters); "a 

 scarce but regular migrant" (Peck). Boone — "rare migrant" 

 (Henning). Hancock — "pair seen on Eake Edwards, May 5, 1893; 

 male shot" (Anderson). Howard — "the Ruddy Duck I have 

 shot at Cresco" (E. B. Webster). Johnson — occasional migrant; 

 female shot April 27, 1902, above Coralville (Anderson). Lee — 

 "common migrant" (Praeger); "migrant, in irregular abundance" 

 (Currier). Linn — "migrant" (Bailey). Polk — "migrant" (John- 

 son). Pottawattamie — Mills — "common migrant" (Trostler). 

 Des Moines, Nov. 11, 1890, male and female; Oct. 22, 1895, 

 female, Burlington, (Bartsch). Scott — "migrant; Mississippi 

 River" (Wilson). Winnebago — "rare; have seen a few on Rice 

 Lake' ' (Richardson). Woodbury — "uncommon transient' ' (Rich). 



Subfamily ANSERIN.E Geese. 



The Geese are large birds, much more terrestrial than the 

 Ducks, and feed principally upon grass and green vegetation. 

 When on the water the^^ feed much as the river ducks do, by dip- 

 ping the head and neck under water with the tail pointing 

 upward. At least eight species and varieties are found in Iowa, 

 all of which are migratory, only one species breeding in the state 

 at all, and that only in very small numbers. 



Genus Chen Boie. 



56. (169). Chen hypcrborea (Pall.). Lesser Snow Goose. 



The Leser and Greater Snow Geese, both of which are found 

 in Iowa during the migrations, resemble each other so closely in 

 form and coloration that they are only distinguishable from each 



[Proc. D. .\. S., Vol. XI.] 26 [August 29, 1906.] 



