gg VESTS AND EGGS OF 



Ring-billed Blackhead, Marsh Blue-bill and Ring-necked Scaup Duck are names 

 hich this species is commonly known. In the United States it is a common 

 spring and fall migrant, and breeds from Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other 

 northern States northward. In some parts of Manitoba it is very abundant, espe- 

 cially in the Red River Valley, where it breeds in the marshes of the lakes and 

 ponds, among the reeds and thick grasses. The nest is made of fine grasses, and 

 slightly lined with feathers. In its general appearance, the bird is similar to the 

 foregoing, but the adult male has an orange-brown ring around the neck; the female 

 has no collar, and the head and neck are brown. This bird may be known in all 

 stages of plumage by the broad bill and gray speculum. The Ring-neck lays from 

 six to twelve eggs, varying from grayish to buff color; they are elliptical in shape, 

 and measure from 2.25 to 2.30 by 1.60 to 1.65. 



151. AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE. (;i<n-i<n-lt<i rlnififnln nmvnmim (Bonap.) 

 Geog. Dist. North America, breeding from Maine and the British Provinces north- 

 ward; migrates south to Cuba. 



The American Golden-eye, Whistler, Garrot, or "Great-Head," is very similar to 

 the next species. It has a large round white spot before the eye, not touching the 

 base of the bill throughout. It is given the name of Whistler from the peculiar 

 noise of the wings while flying, and Great Head from its large and beautifully 

 created head. It is an abundant species throughout the fur countries, where it 

 frequents the rivers and fresh-water lakes in great numbers. Breeds as far north 

 as Alaska, where, on the Yukon, it nests about the middle of June. Like the Wood 

 Duck, it constructs its nests in hollow trees and decayed trunks. It is made of grass, 

 leaves, and moss, lined with down from the bird's breast. The eggs are from six to 

 ten in number, ashy green in color, rounded-oval in shape, and measure from 2.30 to 

 2.55 long by 1.70 to 1.78 broad. 



152. BARROW'S GOLDEN-EYE. tilum-tntnttn ixlninlim ',m>l.) Geog. 

 Dist. Northern North America, south in winter to New York, Illinois and Utah. 

 Greenland; Iceland. 



The Rocky Mountain Garrot, or Golden-eye, is almost exclusively a North 

 American species, breeding from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the east and the 

 mountains of Colorado in the west to high northern 

 regions. It is a resident of Greenland and Iceland, it 

 may be known by the large triangular white spot before 

 the eye running up to a point, applied against the entire 

 base of the bill and the division of the white area on the 

 wing. The head is moderately puffy, with an occipital 

 crest, and the color of the gloss is chiefly purple .md 

 violet. The bill is black or greenish-dusky and the iris 

 golden-yellow. In the female the head is snuff-hrown and 

 no white patch in front of the eye. This bird, like the 



last, makes Its nest in hollow trees, of grass, sticks and weeds, lined with feathers. 

 Mr. Edwin Carter was tin "st and eggs of this species in the moun- 



tains of Colorado in 1876. From six to ten eggs are laid, these are usually elliptical 

 in shape, and measure from 2.25 to 2.30 long by 1.60 to 1.65 broad. 



153. BUFFLE-HEAD. flmrilnnrltn nlho.hi (Linn.) Geog. Dist. North 

 America; south to Cuba and Mexico. Breeds from Maine northward, through 

 ir Countries and Alaska. 



