RING-NECKED DUCK 193 



Behavior est Captivity. Although seldom kept in collections in America and 

 never in Europe, I believe from the few I have seen that this species is fairly well 

 adapted to life in confinement, certainly much better than either of the Scaups and 

 probably about as well as the Red-head. One which I have watched in Washington, 

 an especially fine male, has been there four or five years and is in perfect health. I 

 have a pair now which came to me a year ago. They have not shown any signs of 

 nesting and were not active in courtship the first spring, but I hope that next spring 

 they will at least carry out their full display. They are silent and undemonstrative 

 thus far. Mr. Hollister, the late superintendent at the National Zoological Park, 

 said that his single specimen was a very active, busy little duck but did not associate 

 much with others except American Red-heads and European Tufted Ducks. It 

 seemed to prefer the former. 



Hybrids. Unless in adult plumage it is doubtful if crosses between this and 

 other diving ducks would ever be recognized. There is one hybrid between the 

 Ring-neck and the Red-head in the British Museum (Natural History) in London. 



