V 



76 North American Birds Eggs. 



148. American Scaup Duck. Aythya mania. 



Range.— North America, breeding from Nortli Dakota northward, chiefly in 

 the interior; south in winter to Central America. 



This and the following species are 

 widely known as "Blue-bills" ow- 

 ing to the slat}' blue color of that 

 member. Their plumage is black 

 and white, somewhat similar in 

 pattern to that of the Redhead, but 

 darker, and the whole head is black. 

 They nest in marshes about many 

 of the ponds and lakes in the 

 interior of British America. The 

 nest is made of marsh grasses and 

 lined with feathers. The six to ten 

 eggs are pale grayish or greenish 

 gray. Size 2':50' x 1.70. Data.— 

 Saltcoats Marshes, N. W. Canada, 

 (Palegreenishgray.l June 15, 1901. Ten eggs. Nest in 



the grass; a depression lined with down and dried grasses. Collector, Walter 



Raine. 



149. Lesser Scaup Duck. Aythytt iiffinis. 



Range.— North America, breeding from North Dakota and British Columbia 

 northward; winters south to Central America. 



This Duck is distinguished from the preceding, chiefly by its size which is 

 about two inches less, or 17 inches in length. The nesting habits are the same 

 as those of the Greater Scaup and the eggs are similar but smaller. Size 2.25 

 X 1.55. Data.— Northern Assiniboia, June 10, 1901. Ten eggs on grass and down 

 at the edge of a lagoon. Collector, Walter Raine. 



150. Ring-necked Duck. Aythya coUnris. 



Range.— North America, breeding in the interior, from North Dakota and 

 Washington northward. Winters from Maryland on the east and British Co- 

 lumbia on the west to Central America. 



Similar to the Lesser Scaup in size and plumage, except that it has a narrow 

 chestnut collar around the neek, the back is black instead of barred with white, 

 and the speculum is gray instead of white. The habits and nesting habits of 

 the Ring-neck do not differ from those of the other Scaups. They lay from six 

 to twelve eggs. Size 2.25 x 1.60. Data.— Cape Bathurst, N. W. T., June 18, 

 1901. Ten eggs in a slight hollow in the moss, lined with down. Collector, 

 Captain Bodfish. 

 15 1. American Golden-eye. Claiigula aniericana. 



Range. — North America, breeding both on the coast and in the interior, from 

 the northern border of the United States northward to the Arctic Ocean. 



These are handsome Ducks known 

 as "Whistlers" from the noise of 

 their wings when flying, and "Great- 

 heads" because of the puffy crest. 

 The head is greenish with a large 

 round white spot in front of, and a 

 little below the eye. The rest of the 

 plumage is blacls and white. This 

 species nests in hollow trees near 

 the water, lining the cavity with 

 grass, moss and leaves, and lining 

 the nest with down from their 

 breasts. In May and June they lay 

 from six to ten eggs of a grayish 

 green color. Size 2.30 x 1.70. 



[Grayish green. J 



