(U NORTH AMERICAN DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 
Jamaica, Martinique, Grenada, Barbados, and once in Central America — 
outside of Guatemala— at Irazu, Costa Rica. From the Chesapeake 
1 >a \ to Florida it is quite a common winter resident, though it is being 
rapidly diminished in numbers. 
Spring migration. -The ruddy duck is rather a late migrant. 
Throughout its winter district, northward movements occur late in 
March, and just north of this region it appears early in April. Aver- 
age dates of arrival are: Erie, Pa., April 16; Oberlin, Ohio. April L5 
(earliest April T, 1903); Heron Lake. Minn.. April 10 (earliest April 
3, L889); eastern Nebraska, April 7; Cheyenne, Wyo., April 21; south- 
ern Manitoba, May 5 (earliest, April 26, L891). The tirst migrant was 
seen at Osier, Saskatchewan, May 7. L893, and at Fort Keog'n. Mont., 
April 21, 1889. 
FaU migration. — An excellent series of observations at Alexandria. 
Ya.. extending over sixteen years, fixes September 30 as the average 
date of arrival on the Potomac (earliest, August 20, 1889). The aver- 
age date when the species becomes common is October 25. On the 
Massachusetts coast the rudd} T duck is most common in October and 
November. Farther west in the same latitude migration is somewhat 
earlier, and the northern States, from Pennsylvania to Minnesota, are 
deserted the first half of November. The first date of arrival at 
Barbados is September 13, 1887. 
Nomonyx dominicus (Linn.). Masked Duck. 
This is a tropical species that lives principally in the West Indies 
and in eastern South America. It is common in Argentina to the Rio 
Negro and north through eastern and central Brazil to Guiana, Ven- 
ezuela, and the islands of Trinidad. Barbados. St. Croix, Porto Rico, 
I Iaiti, Jamaica, and Cuba. This may be considered the regular range. 
In western South America the masked duck has been noted at Ooncep- 
cion, Chile, both in June and September, L894 — this is directly west of 
its center of abundance in Argentina— at Tatarenda. in eastern Bolivia. 
and Lake Titacaca. in the western part; at Sarayacu and the river 
Peripa, in Ecuador; twice in Panama, once in Guatemala, and four 
times in Mexico (Orizaba. Jalapa, Matamoras, Escuinapa). dust across 
the river from Matamoras. at Brownsville, Tex., is the only place in 
the United States where it has been found that it seemed to he at 
home. As it was noted duly °2'2. L891, it probably breeds there. 
Strays have been found in Vermont (Alburg Springs. September 26, 
L857), Wisconsin (near Newville, November, ls7<>). Massachusetts 
(Maiden. August i J 7. L 889), and Maryland (El kton, Septembers, L905). 
The species Is not strictly nonmigratory, but the data are insufficient 
to allow <>f exact statements concerning its migration. 
