112 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
Nelson and Turner both report this as a very common duck in 
Alaska, but seem to know little of its breeding habits. Its great 
breeding-grounds are very likely the “tundra” bordering the 
arctic coast southwest of Point Barrow. 
BREEDING Nores.—This species breeds commonly on the 
marshes along the Yukon, even above Fort Yukon. The main 
breeding-ground of this species remains unknown to me, for 
although females and young were not rare in summer, yet they 
were not numerous enough to account for the vast number of 
males to be found. From the fact that immense flocks of the 
males are constantly seen. off the coast in summer it 1s evident 
that the females assume the duty of incubating the eggs and 
rearing the young. (/Ve/son.) The remarks made under O. deglandi 
happen to be, in almost every respect, equally applicable to the 
present species—the only difference noted being that generally 
less hay and feathers was observed in the composition of its nest. 
(Macfarlane.) Audubon observed this species breeding in Labra- 
dor. He found anest in a freshwater marsh, among the tall grass 
and weeds. It was composed entirely of withered weeds, lined 
with the down of the birds, and contained five eggs of a pale- 
yellowish or cream colour. (Mcllwraith.) 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
There are two in the collection, one taken in Hudson Bay, the 
other at Comox, Vancouver Island, June roth, 1893, by Mr. W. 
Spreadborough. 
LXIIl. ERISMATURA Bonaparte. 1832. 
167. Ruddy Duck. 
Evismatura jamaicensis (GMEL. SALVAD. 1896. 
A rare and uncertain visitor on the Atlantic coast, though 
reported from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. 
More common in Quebec, and according to McIlwraith, generally 
distributed in Ontario. Abundant migrant nearLondon. A few 
pairs breed in the marshes at St. Clair Flats. (Saunders & Morden.) 
This is a common summer resident in Manitoba and Assiniboia, 
breeding in all the deep and reedy ponds. Stragglers have been 
taken on Hudson Bay, and Richardson says it breeds as far north 
as Lat. 58°; Ross says that it goes north to Great Slave Lake, but 
