426 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



RUDDY DUCK. 



(Fuligula ruhida, Bonap. Synops. No. 336. Richard, and Swains. 

 North. Zool. ii. p. 455. Anas rubida, Wilson, viii. p. 128. pi. 

 71. fig. 5. [male.] p. 130. pi. 71. fig. 6. [young male.] (female 

 Wils.) Phil. Museum, No. 2808. and 2809.) 



Sp. Charact. — No speculum; bill flat at the base; nostrils small 

 and linear; tail feathers somewhat concave, with sphacelous tips. 

 Iris brown. — Male reddish-brown ; the crown, front and nape 

 black ; sides of the head and chin white. Female blackish-brown, 

 minutely sprinkled with whitish ; the crown darker ; sides of the 

 head dusky and whitish. 



This species, an exclusive inhabitant of America, retires 

 to the north to breed, frequenting the small lakes in the 

 interior of the fur countries up to the 58th parallel. On the 

 5th of August, they were also observed by Mr. Say, at 

 Pembino in the latitude of 49°, where no doubt, they also 

 pass the period of reproduction. They are very unwilling 

 to take wing, though they fly pretty well when once started. 

 They dive with the greatest facility and particularly at the 

 flash of the gun, or even the report of the percussion cap. 

 When swimming they have a habit of carrying the tail so 

 erect that it appears of the same height with the head and 

 neck. Small flocks consisting of the female and young are 

 often seen in Fresh-Pond in this vicinity, but scarcely ever 

 the adult males, who seem to migrate usually apart at this 

 season. They visit us early in October, and in the course of 

 the winter proceed south to the extremity of the Union. 

 On their first arrival they are tame and insuspicious : but 

 the old males are extremely shy and difiicult of approach. 

 Their food appears to be principally marine and fluviatile 

 vegetables, and seeds, for which they dive. Besides gravel, 

 I have found in the stomach seeds and husks of the Riip- 

 pia maritimri. They rarely, if ever, visit the sea, but are 



