92 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



County Records. — Androscoggin ; rare migrant, (Johnson). Cumberland; 

 fairly common, (Brock). Franklin; rare migrant, (Richards). Kennebec; 

 (Dill). Knox; rare migrant, (Rackliff). Oxford; very rare, (Nash). 

 Piscataquis ; I have a specimen taken at Sebec Lake and identified by 

 Brewster, (Ritchie). Sagadahoc; rare spring and fall, (Spinney) ; on Merry- 

 meeting Bay, in 1904, an occasional one was seen in early September, and 

 by the middle of the month bunches of five to eight were not unusual, 

 (Noble). Somerset; rare, two specimens in the fall of 1895, (Morrell). 

 Washington; accidental, (Boardman). 



Though a somewhat general and usually rare migrant along 

 the coast, this species appears locally some years in quite con- 

 siderable numbers comparatively. They usually pass through 

 in late March and April and again in September and October. 

 A nest found in Benson County, North Dakota, June 15, 1896, 

 was placed on the ground, well hidden among flags and nettles 

 not far from a slough. The nest was composed of dry grass 

 and rushes, lined with down, and contained seven bufly white 

 eggs. These eggs measure 2.00 x 1.40, 1.91 x 1.33, 1,99 x 1.44, 

 2.06 X 1.38, 2.04 x 1.38, 2.01 x 1.40, 2.10 x 1.40. The female 

 did not leave the nest until almost trodden upon. Though I 

 can write nothing very definite about their food it probably 

 is very similar to that of the other Ducks. 



Genus AIX Boie. 



/ . . 



' 144. Aix sponsa (Linn.). Wood Duck; Bridal Duck; 



Rainbow Duck; Regal Duck. 



Plumage of adult male : head iridescent green, purple and violet except 

 white lines from bill over eye, at side of prominent crest and some white on 

 crest; bands from throat to side of head and to nape and throat white ; breast 

 chestnut with reddish purple gloss, spotted with white ; belly and band in 

 front of wings white; sides and flanks fulvous, waved with black; back 

 somewhat iridescent greenish brown, darkest on scapulars; speculum steel 

 blue. Plumage of adult female and immature birds : chin, throat, and from 

 base of bill around eye and to back of head white or whitish ; rest of head 

 gray, the crown and rudimental crest slightly greenish glossed ; breast and 

 sides brownish gray, tinged with buffy ; back grayish brown, glossed on wings 

 and scapulars with greenish or purplish. Wing 8.80 to 9.70 ; culmen 1.35 ; 

 tarsus 1.35. 



