Zoological Explorations.. 259 



Charitonetta albeola (Linn.). Bitfflc-head. Rather 

 common, according to the natives, but we only saw a few^ 

 One small flock I discovered asleep on the sluggish waters of 

 a bayou near Grand Rapids. Three were killed, but not 

 saved. Two downy young only a few days old were secured 

 at Chemavvawin. Coloration is as follows: 



Above rich seal brown, lightening on forehead, and darken- 

 ing to almost black on rump; an indistinct buffy spot behind 

 each wing on side of back; a buffy spot in front of the eye, 

 narrowing into a superciliary streak; a brown band running 

 from side of mandible through eye, and joining the brown at 

 back of head. Below brownish buffy, darker across breast, 

 and lighter on belly; flanks rich brown, an extension of the 

 general color of the back. 



I ? was killed at Chemawawin. 



Erismatura rubida (Wils.). Ruddy Duck. Common at 

 Chemawawin, breeding in the sloughs. The breeding season 

 for this duck seems to be later than for most other species, as 

 we secured a good series of dowmy young, from specimens 

 only a few days old to those almost full grown and nearly 

 covered with contour feathers. This series is of exceptional 

 interest, and will be described with some minuteness. 



Youngest specimens: Above seal brown, rather darker on 

 head and rump, the almost black cap extending on the sides 

 of head, including eyes; a conspicuous very light (almost 

 white) spot behind wings. Below white, with a very slight 

 buffy tinge, a white streak running from bill immediately 

 below the brown cap to occiput; below this a sharply defined 

 brown streak, commencing under front of eye and joining 

 brown of occiput; chin and malar region white, behind which 

 is a broad band of rich brown but a little lighter than the back, 

 with a pointed extension toward bill on median line below: 

 Breast white; belly, flank, and crissum grayish white; under 

 surface of wing buffy white. 



In slightly older specimens the brown on the back becomes 



