WATER BIRDS. 



109 



serve to identify this species in any plumage. When swimming its habit 

 of carrying. the tail erect, almost like a hen, often aids in its recognition. 



Distribution. — North America in general, south to the West Indies and 

 through Central America to Columbia; bi'eeds throughout much of its 

 North American range and south to Guatemala. 



The Ruddy Duck is one of the best known of the smaller ducks, its 

 familiarity, its numbers, and the manner in which it avoids the sportsman 

 by diving, having made it familiar even to the youngest Nimrod, and it 



Fig. 29. Ruddy Duck. 

 From photograph of mounted specimen. 



(Original.) 



has received more or less appropriate and distinctive names in all parts 

 of the country. Trumbull in his "Names and Portraits of Birds" lists 

 sixty-seven common synonyms for it, and doubtless there are others in 

 common use which that writer did not happen upon. 



This little duck comes to us in large numbers from the north in October, 

 passes southward before the lakes freeze over, and returns to us again in A])ril. 

 While here it frequents ponds, streams and large and small lakes wherever 

 suitable food is to be found. It is largely vegetarian in its diet and secures 

 most of its food by diving. It is one of the species most often seen on 

 protected ponds, particularly in parks and on reservoirs, where it doubtless 

 does a large amount of good by eating the seeds and bulbs of water i)lants 

 which might otherwise decay and pollute the water. I once took from the 

 crop and stomach of a single Ruddy Duck at Middletown, Connecticut, 

 22,000 seeds of I a species of pondwecd {Naias) which at that time was 

 growing in great abundance in the city reservoir, where the bird was shot. 



Much difference of opinion exists as to the table quality of this duck, 

 many writers averring that its flesh is coarse, tough and fishy. My own 

 experience is just the reverse of tliis, and I have found the bird in 

 autumn uniformly tender and well flavored. The birds scatter some- 

 what in feeding, and, as they are commonly found in flocks of con- 

 siderable size, some are always on the surface serving as sentinels while 

 the others are feeding below. In fliglit they keep well together in compact 



