310 FEATHERED GAME 



making their nests on the ground, of grass and 

 dry moss, and ordinarily lay from six to eight 

 eggs ; these usually are of a pale grayish green 

 color. They winter along the southeast and 

 Gulf coasts of the United States, the West In- 

 dies and northern South America. 



The drake in his spring suit is a brilliant and 

 showy bird, his shapely form set off by bright 

 and sharply contrasted colors. His head and 

 neck are dark green, glossy and beautiful with 

 the sheen of purple and violet. Lower neck, up- 

 per part of the back and breast pure white, in 

 front just rusted with the faintest tinge of cin- 

 namon from below. The wing coverts sky blue, 

 darkening toward the greater, those margining 

 the speculum pure white. Scapulars blue on 

 the outer webs, striped with black and white on 

 the inner half. Some of the shorter scapulars 

 are white. Speculum green. Rump and tail 

 coverts both above and below are black, or a 

 rich dark green as the light happens to strike 

 them. There is a white spot on each side at 

 the root of the tail. Below, lower breast and 

 abdomen deep chestnut with a purplish bloom 

 to the feathers. On the flanks a few fine dusky 

 lines across the tips of the feathers. Wing 



