GEESE. 119 



always distinguish this species from O. americana^ while it may be known 

 from deglaiidi by the absence of white in the wings. 



Range. — Breeds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward; winters south- 

 ward to the Great Lakes and Virginia, and casually to Florida. 



Washington, casual W. V. Long Island, common W. V., Oct. through 

 Apl. Sing Sing, common T. V., Oct. 7 to Oct. 22. Cambridge, occasional 

 in fall. 



JS'est^ in tall grasses near water. £ggs^ "five to eight, pale buff or pale 

 creamy buff, 2-47 x 170 " (Kidgw.). 



167. Erismatura rubida ( TH/s.). Ruddy Duck. Ad. $. — Top ot 

 the head black, cheeks and chin white, throat and back rufous-chestnut, 

 lower back blackish ; breast and belly silvery white ; upper tail-coverts very 

 short, tail-feathers stiff and pointed. Ad. $ and Im. — Upper parts dark gray- 

 ish brown, the feathers marked with fine wavy bars of bufty ; sides of the 

 head and upper throat whitish, lower throat grayish, rest of the under parts 

 silvery white. L., 15-00 ; W., 5-90 ; Tar., 1-15 ; B., 1-55. 



Bemarks. — The short upper tail-coverts and stitf, pointed tail-feathers will 

 always serve to identify this species. 



Range. — Of general distribution from northern South America to .the fur 

 countries, breeding largely northward, but locally throughout its range 

 (Granada, Wells ; Guatemala, Salvin ; Cuba, Gundlach ; Cape Cod, Miller). 



Washington, common W. V., Sept. to Apl. Long Island, irregular T. V. 

 Sing Sing, common T. V., Mch. 14 to Apl. 0; Oct. 5 to Oct. 28. Cambridge, 

 very common in Oct. and Nov. 



Nest., in a slough or marshy place, generally on a mass of floating vegeta- 

 tion. Eggs., six to ten, creamy or buffy wliite, 2-50 x 1-80. 



'• When rising from the water, it runs on the surface for some dis 

 tance, and generally against the wind. If it can not command a fair 

 open space for flight, it will dive, using its tail either as a rudder or as 

 a paddle in a vertical motion, and will hide itself away among the 

 grass and sedges. When on the wing, it flies low along the surface of 

 the water, with a rapid beat of its broad wings, making a short, plump 

 figure quite uncommon for a Duck ; and it generally flies quite a dis- 

 tance before alighting " (Langille). In swimming, the tail is sometimes 

 held erect at right angles to the body. 



The Masked Duck {168. Nomonyx dominicus) is a tropical species of 

 rare occurrence in North America. Single specimens have been taken in 

 Wisconsin, New York, and near Cambridge, Mass. 



Subfamily Anserinm. Geese. 



Geese are vegetarians. When on the water, they feed largely by 

 tipping, as with head and neck immersed and tail pointing skyward 

 they search for the roots or seeds of aquatic plants. They are far 

 more terrestrial than Ducks, and visit the land to nip the herbage, 



