The Ring-necked Duck 



nine times at Santa Barbara (Nov. 4 to Jan. 4). Has bred at Eagle Lake, and probably 

 elsewhere in the northeastern plateau region. 



Authorities. — Henshaw (Fidigula collaris), Rep. Orn. Wheeler Surv., 1877, p. 

 1321 (Lake Tahoe) ; Sheldon, Condor, vol. ix., 1907, p. 187 (Eagle Lake, breeding); 

 Hollister, Auk, vol. xxxvi., 1919, p. 460 (crit.; syst.). 



AX AIR OF romantic mystery still haunts the appearance of this 

 bird, which is persistently rated one of the rarities of California duckdom. 

 Western bird-lovers for the most part understand that it is a privilege 

 even to see a bird of this species, however fleetingly ; but it is a bit pedantic 

 in the authors of "Game Birds of California" to speak of "more than 

 fifteen different records," when Sheldon found them breeding in numbers 

 on Eagle Lake in Lassen County, and Belding had shot specimens re- 

 peatedly and rated it "fairly common" in central California. I saw a 

 small flock, usually of seven individuals, for five successive winters in a 

 certain cove of Laguna Blanca near Santa Barbara; but this refuge was 

 deserted immediately after its unfortunate desecration by gun-fire, Dec. 

 6, 1914. Only once thereafter, viz., on Dec. 26, 1914, did this species, to 

 my knowledge, put in even a momentary appearance. 



The center of the Ring-neck's abundance in the breeding season lies 



Taken near Santa Barbar 



Photo by the Author 



WHERE THE RING-NECKS USED TO WINTER 



T8I3 



