THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 105 



Winter visitant from North America (abundance not known). 



Abbott secured three from a flock of four January 2, 1922 in the 

 mouth of the Yuna River opposite Sanchez. He saw others at 

 Cabral between March 15 and 18, 1922. It is assumed that the birds 

 reported by Verrill in San Lorenzo Bay as the greater scaup were 

 the present species, since the greater scaup has not been known to 

 occur in winter south of Florida. 



In Haiti Abbott secured a female January 4, 1918 at Grande 

 Cayemite Island, and another specimen at the Etang Saumatre 

 April 6, 1920. Beebe reports four off shore from Port-au-Prince 

 (probably near the Bizoton wharves) early in January, 1927. Tip- 

 penhauer lists the species from Haiti without comment. Bond found 

 it at the Etang Miragoane, Trou Caiman and on the Artibonite 

 River. 



There is nothing further known to us regarding the occurrence 

 of this species. 



The lesser scaup is a North American species that comes regularly 

 to the West Indies to spend the winter on open lagoons or stretches 

 of quiet water on the larger streams. The birds are gregarious and 

 are usually encountered in little groups that drift about in the safety 

 of open water during the day, and approach the shore line only 

 under cover of darkness. This species is one of the deep water ducks 

 that secures its food mainly by diving. 



The adult male has the head, neck and upper breast black with 

 a gloss of purple on the side of the head. The back is white mottled 

 with dusky, and the under surface white, except for the under tail 

 coverts which are black. There is a white wing speculum. In the 

 female the black found in the male is replaced by dull brown, and 

 there are conspicuous white markings on the head adjacent to the 

 bill, particularly on the sides of the head. The hind toe as in all 

 deep water ducks has a broad flap or lobe. 



[NYROCA COLLARIS (Donovan) 

 RING-NECKED DUCK 



Anas collarw Donovan, Brit. Birds, vol. 6, 1809, pi. 147 (Lincolnshire, Eng- 

 land. Found in Leadenhall Market, London). 



Fuligula collarjs, Tippenhauek, Die Insel Haiti, 1892, p. 323 (listed). 



Reported without comment by Tippenhauer and here placed in 

 the hypothetical list pending report of a specimen. The species is 

 seemingly rather rare in Cuba, and has been reported only once in 

 Porto Rico. 



The ring-neck in form and appearance is generally similar to the 

 lesser scaup duck. The male has the back black, and a poorly defined 



