340 FEATHERED GAME 



THE RING-NECKED DUCK. 



(Aythya coUaris.) 



Closely allied to the two last is the Ring- 

 necked Duck. About a medium between them 

 in size and inhabiting the same range of coun- 

 try; breeding from the northern part of the 

 United States into the Arctic regions, and in 

 their winter migrations often traveling to the 

 West Indies. 



They build their nests on the ground, lining 

 a shallow hollow with moss and dry grass, and 

 in this lay their complement of eggs, usually 

 eight in number, in color a light greenish. This 

 species is not at all common in New England 

 and is less numerous throughout the whole of 

 its range than are the Scaups. I doubt if an 

 average of one Ring-necked Duck a year is 

 killed in the State of Maine. 



Its markings are as follows : Head and neck 

 of brilliant bluish- or purplish-black, with a 

 slight crest. Around the neck a collar of deep 

 orange brown or chestnut; lower neck and up- 

 per breast blackish. Above blackish, scapulars 

 faintly waved with gray. Wings dusky brown ; 



