340 FEATHERED GAME 
THE RING-NECKED DUCK. 
(Aythya collaris.) 
Closely allied to the two last is the Ring- 
necked Duck. About a medium between them 
in size and inhabiting the same range of coun- 
try; breeding from the northern part of the 
United States into the Arctic regions, and in 
their winter migrations often traveling to the 
West Indies. 
They build their nests on the ground, lining 
a shallow hollow with moss and dry grass, and 
in this lay their complement of eggs, usually 
eight in number, in color a light greenish. This 
species is not at all common in New England 
and is less numerous throughout the whole of 
its range than are the Scaups. I doubt if an 
average of one Ring-necked Duck a year is 
killed in the State of Maine. 
Its markings are as follows: Head and neck 
of brilliant bluish- or purplish-black, with a 
slight crest. Around the neck a collar of deep 
‘orange brown or chestnut; lower neck and up- 
per breast blackish. Above blackish, scapulars 
faintly waved with gray. Wings dusky brown; 
