26 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



Male. 



liilvous or raw-uiubt'i- brown ; breust and abdomen wliite ; anal region (bill l)r()wn, longer feathers 

 of the crissiun whitish ; wings as in the male ; remaining upper parts dull dark brown, the feathers 

 of the back narrowly tipped with fulvous. Bands on the bill narrower and less distinct than in 



the male ; iris yellow ; feet slaty. 



Total length, about IG to 18 inches, extent, 

 24 to 27 ; culmen, 1.75-2.00 ; tarsus, 1.30-1.45 ; 

 middle toe, 2.00-2.15. 



Dovmy young : ^ Above, grayish umber-brown, 

 relieved by seven spots of liglit buff, as follows : 

 a small and inconspicuous spot in the middle 

 of the back, between, and a little anterior to, the 

 wings ; a large patch on each side the back, an- 

 other on each side the rump, at the base of the 

 tail, and a bar across the posterior border of each 

 wing. Crown, occiput, and nape cro.ssed longi- 

 tudinally by a wide stripe of deep grayish um- 

 ber ; a roundish isolated spot of light grayish 

 brown directly over the ears ; remainder of the 

 head, including the forehead, and lower parts gen- 

 erally, light dingy buft', the flanks crossed by a 

 brown transverse stripe from the rump to the 

 tibia. Side of the head ivithout any longitudinal 

 stripes. 



The chief variation in the plumage of this 

 species consists in the distinctness of the chest- 

 nut collar in the male. In some examples this 

 is scarcely more conspicuous than in F. affinis, being dull brown instead of reddish ; but usually 

 the color is a well-defined chestnut, particularly in front. 



The female Ring-neck resembles very closely in- 

 deed that of the Red-head (^^thyia amcricana) ; but 

 may be distinguished by the character to which at- 

 tention is called under the latter species (see p. 36). 



The Ring-necked Duck, as compared with 

 other species, does not appear to be anywhere 

 an abundant bird, although found nearly 

 throughout America. It breeds as far south 

 as Calais, near the eastern coast, in Southern 

 Wisconsin, and in Minnesota. It is said to 

 breed as far to the north as Fort Simpson, 

 where it was found by Mr. B. Ross. In the 

 winter it extends its migrations to the Gulf 

 of Mexico, to the Pacific coast of Mexico, and 

 to Central America. It is also found in the 

 winter in Cuba, and probably in most, if not 

 all, the other West India islands. Dr. Bry- 

 ant speaks of finding it in immense flocks in 

 winter in the Bahamas. 



This Duck was taken by Mr. Salvin at Coban, Vera Paz, November, 1859, when it 

 was found frequenting the river in considerable numbers. Colonel Grayson also 



1 Described from No. 60550, Calais, ]\Ie. ; G. A. BoAr.DMAN. This exampb^ is pretty well grown, 

 being nearly 8 inches in total length, the bill nearly 1 inch ; younger individuals would doubtless be more 

 highly colored — probably deep buff beneath and on the head. 



Female. 



