RING-NECKED DUCK. 81 



far north as the American Scaup Duck, and going farther south in 

 winter. 



In Southern Ontario it is about equal in abundance with the 

 preceding, with which it is often associated, but it does not leave 

 Hamilton Bay till about the middle of May, which would lead us to 

 suppose that it does not go so far north to breed as some of the 

 others. 



In Southern Ontario it is the more abundant of the two during 

 migrations. Mr. Saunders mentions that a few breed on the St. 

 Clair Flats, and Dr. Macallum states that some still breed in the 

 marsh near Dunnville. Throughout the North- West it is spoken of 

 by all the observers as an exceedingly abundant summer resident. 

 Macoun says: "Breeding more commonly than the preceding." 



In Alaska, Mr. Nelson had heard of it having been obtained at the 

 mouth of the Yukon, and says regarding it: "This record is ex- 

 tremely doubtful, since during my visit to the Yukon mouth in the 

 spring of 1879, and my long residence only sixty miles north of there, 

 not a single example of this bird was obtained or seen, nor did any of 

 my collectors in the various parts of the territory observe or secure it." 



It remains in Southern Ontario till the waters are frozen over, 

 when it moves to the south to spend the winter. 



AYTHYA COLLARIS (DONOV.). 

 50. Ring-necked Duck. (150) 



Similar to the foregoing, but an orange-brown ring around the neck ; specu- 

 lum, gray; back, nearly uniform blackish; bill, black, pale at base and near 

 tip. Female: With head and neck brown, and no collar, but loral space and 

 chin, whitish, as is a ring around eye ; bill, plain dusky. In size, between the 

 two foregoing. 



HAB. North America, breeding far north, and migrating south to Guate- 

 mala and the West Indies. 



Nest, on the ground, composed of grass, lined with feathers. 



Eggs, eight to ten, varying from grayish to buff. 



This handsome little duck is not so common as either of the pre- 

 ceding. While here it resembles the Teal in its habits, preferring 

 marsh to open water, on account of which the gunners have given it 

 the name of Pond Bluebill. 



In distribution its range is about the same as that of the Blue- 



