74 BIRDS 



until they are two years old. This accounts for the 

 appearance of lesser scaups upon southern Lake Michigan 

 throughout the summer. 



In Devil's Lake region of North Dakota the lesser scaup 

 breeds, being a common summer resident save while nest- 

 ing, it inhabits deeper water than other ducks, except the 

 canvas-back and redhead. After June 1st a drake may be 

 seen in company with several females paddling about in 

 the grassy sloughs near nesting grounds. Scaups are par- 

 tial to small islands which afford sufficient concealment for 

 the nest. Six to eleven light olive-green eggs are laid. 



THE RING-BILLED OR RING-NECKED DUCK* 



This duck has many popular sjTionyms, among others 

 Ring-billed, Ring-billed Shuffler, Ring-necked Scaup Duck, 

 or Blue-bill Fall Duck (INIinnesota), Black Jack (Illinois), 

 Moon-bill (South Carolina). It is found throughout the 

 whole of North America, south to Guatemala and the West 

 Indies; breeding from Iowa, southern Wisconsin, Minne- 

 sota, and Maine northward. It is accidental in Europe. 



The chief variation in the plumage of this species con- 

 sists in the distinctness of the chestnut collar in the male, 

 which is usually well defined, particularly in front. There 

 is very little in its habits to distinguish it from the other 

 "black-heads." Like them, it usually associates in small 

 flocks. Its flesh is excellent, being fat, tender, and juicy. 



W. L. Dawson, in "Birds of Ohio," says: "This ele- 

 gant species bears a general resemblance to the lesser scaup, 

 but is nowhere so common unless it be in Minnesota, the 



