DUCKS 



153 



marks on sides : crown and nape, dusky-brown, with 

 two indistinct dusky streaks alongside of head; under 

 tail-coverts, white ; bill, feet, and eyes, as in spring 

 male but much duller. 



Nest and Eggs. — Xest ; In the abandoned homes of 

 Coots or on the shores of lakes, ponds, or streams; a 

 bulky structure of dry reeds, rushes, and grass, so large 

 and buoyant that it will float. Eggs: y to 14, creamy or 

 light buff. 



Distribution. — North America ; breeds from central 

 British Columbia, Great Slave Lake, southern Keewatin, 



and northern Ungava south to northern Lower Cali- 

 fornia, central Arizona, northern New Mexico, north- 

 western Nebraska, southern Minnesota, southern 

 Michigan, southern Ontario, and Maine, and rarely and 

 locally in southern Lower California, Kansas, Massa- 

 chusetts, \'alley of Me.\ico, Lake Duenas, Guatemala, 

 and in Cuba, Porto Rico, and Carriacou ; winters from 

 southern British Columbia, Arizona, New Mexico, 

 southern Illinois, Maine, Peimsylvania, and south to the 

 Lesser Antilles and Costa Rica ; rare in migration to 

 Newfoundland and Bermuda. 



'S^,-^ 



Dr.i\ving Ijv R. I. Driiihcr 



RUDDY DUCK (J nat. size) 



A sprightly, comical little Duck, whose flesh is a passable substitute for that of the Canvas-back 



The sprightly, comical little Ruddy Duck is a 

 distinctly North American species and is dis- 

 tributed widely over the continent. It is per- 

 fectly at home on or under water and dislikes to 

 leave it, often preferring to attempt escape by 

 diving rather than by flying. This makes it easy 

 game for the gunner, as a flock will sometimes 

 remain in a salt pond so small that any part of 

 it may be reached from the shore with a shot- 

 gun, diving at every shot until those left alive 

 essay to fly and most of them pay the i)enalty of 

 their simplicity with their lives. They can dive so 

 (liiickly that they often escape unharmed. Like 

 the Grebes they possess the power of sinking 

 slov/ly down backward out of sight, but like them 

 also they rise from the water with some labor 

 and difUculty. They are extremely tough, hardy 

 little birds and gunners know them by such names 

 as Tough-head, Hard-head. .Steel-head, etc. 

 ( )ther local names, such as Booby, Noddv, and 

 Fool Duck, indicate a lack of resjiect for the 

 birds" perspicacity. 



When the famous Canvas-back first showed 

 signs of scarcity on the Atlantic coast, a jirice 



Mm ^^ 



A PAIR OF RUDDY DUCKS ON BREEDING-GROUND 



