210 GEESE 



Nest, in tall grasses near water. Eggs, "5-8, pale buff or pale creamy buff, 

 2'47 x IWCRidgw.). Date, Fort Anderson, Mack., June 25. 



167. Erismatura jamaicensis (GmeL). RUDDY DUCK. Ad. d*. Top 

 of head black, cheeks and chin white, throat and back rufous-chestnut, 

 lower back blackish; breast and belly silvery white; upper tail-coverts very 

 short, tail-feathers stiff and pointed; bill blue. Ad. 9 and Im. Upperparts 

 dark grayish brown, the feathers marked with fine wavy bars of buffy; 

 sides of head and upper throat whitish, lower throat grayish, rest of under- 

 parts silvery white. L., 15'00; W., 5'90; Tar., 1'15;B., 1'55. 



Remarks. The short upper tail-coverts and stiff, pointed tail-feathers 

 will always serve to identify this species. 



Range. N. A. Breeds from cen. B. C., Great Slave Lake, s. Keewatin, 

 and n. Ungava s. to n. L. Calif., cen. Ariz., n. N. Mex., nw. Nebr., s. Minn., 

 s. Mich., s. Ont., and Maine, and rarely and locally in s. L. Calif., Kans., 

 Mass., Valley of Mex., Lake Dueiias, Guatemala, and in Cuba, Porto Rico, 

 and Carriacou; winters from s. B. C., Ariz., N. Mex., s. Ills., Maine, Pa. 

 and s. to the Lesser Antilles and Costa Rica; rare in migration to N. F. and 

 Bermuda. 



Washington, common W. V., Aug. 20- June 21. Long Island, irregular 

 T. V. and W. V., Oct. 17-May 22. Ossining, common T. V., Mch. 14-Apl. 6; 

 Oct. 5-Oct. 28. Cambridge, formerly very common in fall; Oct. 10-Nov. 8. 

 N. Ohio, common T. V., Apl. 1-May 15; Oct. 10-Nov. 20. Glen Ellyn, rare 

 T. V., Mch. 21-May 21. SE. Minn., T. V., and uncommon S. R., Apl. 14. 



Nest, of reeds, in reeds over water. Eggs, 6-10, white, 2*50 x 1*80. 

 Date, N. D., June 10. 



This plump little Duck swims jauntily with upturned tail. When 

 pursued it dives, unless too hard pressed, and then, after pattering 

 over the water, it takes to the air, with rapidly whirring wings and low, 

 straight flight which suggests that of a great bumblebee. The male, 

 in breeding plumage, is unmistakable and its bright, sky-blue bill is 

 distinguishable from a distance. 



The MASKED DUCK (168. Nomonyx dominions) is a tropical species rare 

 north of the Rio Grande. Single specimens have been taken in Wisconsin, 

 Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maryland. 



Subfamily Anserince. Geese. 



Excluding the members of the subfamilies Anseranatinoz and Plec- 

 tropterince we have left the true Geese, numbering twenty-five 

 species, which are included in the present subfamily. With Geese the 

 sexes are alike in color. The male is the larger and he takes part in 

 incubation and in the care of the young. 



Geese are vegetarians. When on the water, they feed largely by 

 tipping, as with head and neck immersed and tail pointing skyward, 

 they search for the roots or seeds of aquatic plants. They are far more 

 terrestrial than Ducks, and visit the land to nip the herbage, young 

 corn, or cereals. When wounded, they dive readily and, with their 

 body just below the surface of the water and only the bill exposed, 

 head for the shore, where they attempt to hide in the vegetation. In 

 migrating, the flock is formed in a V-shaped wedge, the lead, it is said, 

 being taken by an old gander. 



