346 
SWIMMERS. 
RING-xNECKED DUCK. 
RING-BILLED BLACKHEAD. RING-NECKED BLACKHEAD. 
MARSH BLUEBILL. 
.4ythya collaris. 
Char. Upper parts and breast black, deepest on the head; an orange- 
brown collar on the neck; wings slate gray, wing-patch bluish; under 
parts white, flanks marked with fine waved lines; bill leaden blue, tipped 
with black, and with subterminal and basal bands of pale blue. 
The female lacks the collar and the waved lines on flanks ; band of 
grayish w'hitc around base of b 11 shading to pure white on the chin ; 
general tints brownish. Length i6 to i8 inches. 
Nest. Concealed amid rank herbage in reedy margins of a stream or 
pond; made of grass and lined with feathers. 
6-12; grayish buff tinged with olive; 2,25 X 1.60. 
The Ring-necked Duck is found throughout North America, 
breeding from about latitude 45° northward, and wintering from 
Che.sapeake Bay and the lower Ohio to the West Indies. It does 
not appear to be an abundant bird anywhere, but is more com- 
mon along tlie valley of the Mississippi than near the Atlantic, 
where it is so uncommon as to be considered rare by many local 
ornithologists. Mr. Boarclman writes to me that the bird breeds 
regularly on the St. Croix River, and is not uncommon about the 
mouth of the Bay of Fundy. I had met with it elsewhere in New 
Brunswick, but considered it rather rare. 
The habits of this species are similar to those of others of the 
group. Its food consists chiefly of aquatic insects and seeds, varied 
with such small marine animals as come within reach of its bill. 
It swims and dives with ease, and its flight is strong and rapid; 
and as it rises from the water with more ease, it more frequently 
attempts to escape from a pursuer by flight than does either of its 
congeners. 
