310 FEATHERED GAME 
making their nests on the ground, of grass and 
dry moss, and ordinarily lay from six to eight 
eggs; these usually are of a pale grayish green 
color. They winter along the southeast and 
Gulf coasts of the United States, the West In- 
dies and northern South America. 
The drake in his spring suit is a brilliant and 
showy bird, his shapely form set off by bright 
and sharply contrasted colors. His head and 
neck are dark green, glossy and beautiful with 
the sheen of purple and violet. Lower neck, up- 
per part of the back and breast pure white, in 
front just rusted with the faintest tinge of cin- 
namon from below. The wing coverts sky blue, 
darkening toward the greater, those margining 
the speculum pure white. Scapulars blue on 
the outer webs, striped with black and white on 
the inner half. Some of the shorter scapulars 
are white. Speculum green. Rump and tail 
coverts both above and below are black, or a 
rich dark green as the light happens to strike 
them. There is a white spot on each side at 
the root of the tail. Below, lower breast and 
abdomen deep chestnut with a purplish bloom 
to the feathers. On the flanks a few fine dusky 
lines across the tips of the feathers. Wing 
