North American Birds Eggs. 



166. Surf Scoter. Okleinia perapicillata. 



Range.— Northern North America, breeding north of the United States bound- 

 ary, and wintering south to Virginia and southern California. 



The male of this species is entirely lilack, except for the white patches on tlie 

 forehead and nape, and the vari-colored bill of black, white, pink and yellow. 

 They nest either along the coast or in the interior, buikling a nest lined with 

 down, in the marsh grass bordering small ponds. They lay from five to eight 

 liuffy cream colored eggs. Size L'.4() x 1.70. The females of all the Scoters area 

 dingy brownish color, but show the (diaracteristic marking of the species, 

 although the white is generally dull or sometimes mottled. Data. — j\[ackenzie 

 River, June 25, 1W)4. Six eggs in a nest of downj)njin'island in the river. 



167. Ruddy Duck. Eri.imntura jamnirrnfiis. 



Range. — Whole of North America, breeding chiefly north of the Uniteil States 

 border, except locally on the Pacific coast. Winters along tlie Gulf and through 

 Mexico anti Central America. 



■X 



ii, 111(11. Eight egg 

 a tuft of rushes in 



Nest maile of a(iuati( 



a marsh. Collector, Walter Raine. 



This peculiar species may always 

 be recognized by the brownish or 

 chestnut ujiper parts, blackish 

 crown, wdiite clieeks and silvery 

 white underparts. The bill is very 

 stout and broad at the end, and 

 the tail feathers are stiff and 

 pointeil, like those of a Cormorant. 

 They build their nests in low 

 marshes places, either placing them 

 on the ground near the water or in 

 the ruslies over it. Their nests 

 are made of rushes and grasses, 

 sometimes lined and sometimes 

 not, with down from the parents 

 breast. The eggs number from 

 six to twelve and are grayish in 

 color. Size 2.40 x 1.75. Data. — 

 Northern Assiniboia, Canaila,.June 

 grasses, linetl with down. Built in 



[168.] Masked Duck. Nonumij.c (li>miiiir(i,n. 



This is a tropical species which is resident in Mexico, Central America and in 

 the West Indies. It occurs in Mexico north to the lower Rio (xrande Valley and 

 has in three known instances strayed to northeastern United States. The gen- 

 eral plumage is a rusty chesnut, mottled with blacdcisli, it has a lalack face and 

 throat, and white wing bars. 



