NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 37 



the Northwestern States to Alaska. Nests commonly in many 

 of the lakes and ponds of Manitoba. On the marshes and lakes 

 in the mountain valleys of Oregon the Canvas-back constructs 

 its nest at the edge of the water or near it in tall rushes or 

 grass. The Canvas-back is the highly esteemed table duck. 

 When feeding on wild celery the flesh is said to acquire a 

 .peculiarly fine flavor, but under other circumstances not one 

 person in ten thousand can tell it from any other duck, on the 

 table. It ig often confounded with the Redhead, but there is no 

 occasion for this, even when the different sexes come to hand in 

 any state of plumage. Although both species are similar in 

 plumage, their heads alone will differentiate them. The Red- 

 head has a high forehead, while the Canvas-back's head slopes 

 gradually down to the bill and the bill rises high on the fore- 147. CANVAS-BACK. 

 head. In the male Redhead the entire head is clear chestnut 



red, with a coppery tint, and the bill pale grayish-blue, with a dark tip. In the 

 Canvas-back nearly the whole head is blackish-brown, and the bill blackish. The 

 general color of the females of both is brownish throughout. The nest of the 

 Canvas-back is generally made on the ground in marshy places; tall, rank grass is 

 usually selected. It is composed of grass and weeds, less thickly lined with feathers 

 than the nests of other ducks are. The eggs are from six to ten in number, pale 

 grayish-drab or greenish-buff, elliptical, and measure from 2.25 to 2.50 long by 1.70 

 to 1.75 broad. 



148. AMERICAN SCAUP DUCK. Ay thy a marila nearctica Stejn. Geog. 

 Dist. North America, breeding far north. 



This and the next species are closely allied, and are variously known as Blue- 

 bills, Raft Duck, Floating Fowl and Shufflers. This one is called Big Blackhead or 

 Greater Scaup Duck, on account of its size. It inhabits the whole of North America, 

 and breeds far north. It is not so abundant in the United States as the next species. 

 In many of the river valleys and in the lakes of Manitoba it is a common summer 

 resident, where it nests on the ground in swampy places. The nest material is grass 

 and weeds, and the lining is down from the breast of the bird. In the male the 

 head, neck and the front part of the body are black, the former with a green gloss; 

 the back and sides whitish, finely waved in zig-zag with black; underneath and 

 speculum of wing is white. The bill is blue, with black nail; iris yellow. In the 

 female the head and anterior parts brown; face pure white. The eggs of the 

 American Scaup Duck are of a pale, buffy olive-gray, or ashy-green, elliptical, six to 

 ten, in number, size 2.54x1.71. 



149. LESSER SCAUP DUCK. Aythya afflnis (Eyt.) Geog. Dist. North 

 America in general, migrating south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



As its name indicates, this species is smaller than the last, to which it is very 

 similar. Breeds chiefly north of the United States. It is a common summer resident 

 in the lakes, marshes, ponds, and rivers of Western Manitoba and throughout 

 other portions of the fur countries northward. Jts nesting habits and its eggs are 

 the same as A. marila nearctica. The average size of the eggs is about 2.25x1.58. 



150. RING-NECKED DUCK. Aythya collaris (Donov.) Geog. Dist. North 

 America, migrates south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



