ANSERES. 43 



the autumn they begin in late October and continue well 

 toward the close of November, or later if the conditions be 

 favorable. 



40. (149.) Aythya affinis (Eyt.). 25. 7 

 Lesser Scaup Duck. 



Synonyms: Fulix affinis, Fuligula affinis. 



Lesser Black-head, Little Black-head, Little Blue-bill. 

 Audubon, B. Am., VI, 1843, 316. 



This is probably the most familiar duck to residents of 

 Ohio. It is apparently less numerous than the Pintail, but 

 is far less wary and so more frequently seen by the casual 

 bird student or hunter. It seems to prefer the smaller 

 waters, and is a regular and numerous visitor to the Oberlin 

 water-works reservoir. It is a rare summer resident 

 in Lorain county, and has been reported as breeding in 

 Summit county. It probably breeds sparingly in the north- 

 ern third of the state. Considerable numbers of both sexes 

 of this species were found during the summer on both the 

 Licking and Lewiston reservoirs, but they proved to be 

 crippled birds and were not breeding. 



The migrations begin late in March or early in April, 

 and flocks of considerable numbers are seen at Oberlin as 

 late as May 5th. Their return is dependent in large measure 

 upon the weather. The first are usually seen during the sec- 

 ond week in October, and some may tarry well into No- 

 vember. 



41. (150.) Aythya collaris (Donov.)- 358. 

 Ring-necked Duck. 



Synonyms: Fulix collaris, Anas collaris, Fuligula collaris, 

 Fuligula rufitorques. 



Ring-bill, Ring-billed Black-head, Ring-necked Scaup Duck, 



Marsh Blue-bill. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 166, 186. 



This duck is little known, and is reported as rare through- 

 out the state. Dr. Wheaton reported it as abundant. I 

 have found it but once in Lorain county, and that once on 



