118 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



Oxford; visitant, (Nash). Penobscot; a few straggle into the larger lakes 

 in fall, (Knight). Piscataquis; rare, (Homer). Sagadahoc; seen the year 

 around, (Spinney). Somerset; flock of nine seen in September, 1895, one 

 shot by H. H. Johnson, (Morrell). Waldo; occasional in fall and winter, a 

 few in spring and summer, (Knight). Washington; common, (Boardman). 



Like the other Scoters this species occurs along the coast in 

 fall and spring in flocks, scattering bunches remain all winter, 

 and some few stay all summer but do not nest. The nest is 

 placed on the ground in fresh water marshes or near some pond 

 or lake, being made of grass and weeds, lined with down. Five 

 to eight pale buff eggs are said to be laid and their measure- 

 ments are about ^.31 x 1.63. 



Genus ERISMATURA Bonaparte. 



167. Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmel.). Ruddy Duck; 

 Sprig-tail ; Dipper. 



Plumage of adult male : tail feathers very stiff, pointed ; upper tail cov- 

 erts exceedingly short ; throat, back and neck reddish chestnut ; top of head 

 black ; side of head below eyes white ; below glossy whitish, often with a 

 more or less rusty tinge to ends of feathers, this wearing away and leaving 

 the entire plumage below white. Plumage of adult female and immature : 

 above grayish brown, mottled or wavy barred with buffy; sides of head and 

 the throat grayish white ; a brownish stripe from corner of mouth to ear 

 coverts ; other under parts silvery white. Wing 5.70 to 6.10 ; culmen 1.55 ; 

 tarsus 1.17. 



Geog. Dist. — Entire North America, breeding locally throughout its range, 

 but more commonly in the northern latitudes ; south in winter to the West 

 Indies and Central America. 



County Records. — Androscoggin; fairly common migrant, (Johnson). 

 Cumberland; common, (Brock). Hancock; rare migrant, (Knight). Knox; 

 transient visitor, (Norton). Penobscot; occasional, (Hardy). Sagadahoc; 

 few fall and spring, (Spinney). Washington; not rare, breeds, (Boardman). 

 York; I have seen a specimen from the town of York, (Norton). 



This species occurs chiefly as a fall and spring migrant, 

 never being especially common. While it is more general along 

 the coast in October, November, and less frequently in April 

 and May, it may be expected locally throughout the State at 

 these seasons. With us it has been reported as breeding only 

 in Washington County. The nest is almost always built either 



