BUDDY DUCK 



207 



ber of other distinctive characters can be seen. The upper tail coverts 

 are extremely short and leave the eighteen stiff, narrow-webbed and 

 pointed tail feathers almost without covering. The bill is broad and 

 slightly turned upward toward tip and bears a conspicuous "nail." 

 It is not longer than the head. In spring and early summer the males 

 have the whole neck and back a uniform chestnut or reddish brown, 

 a distinctive feature., The brightly plumaged males in spring carry 

 on various complex courting antics, in which the spread tail figures 

 conspicuously. Brooks (1903, p. 280) records that while watching 

 the curious antics of the male, through a binocular at very close 

 range, he was struck with the peculiar formation of the head, there 

 being distinct elevations over each eye resembling those on a frog's 

 head. These were evidently caused by inflation from inside the skin. 

 The breeding season of the Ruddy Duck extends from the first of 

 May to the end of July or even later (see table 11). 



Table 11.— Data 

 Locality 



Nigger Slough, 



Los Angeles, Co. 

 Niles, Alameda Co. 

 Mission Valley, 



San Diego Co. 

 Los Bancs, Merced Co. 

 Orange, Orange Co. 



San Jacinto Lake, 



Riverside Co. 

 Near Los Angeles 



Bear A^alley lakes, 



San Bernardino Co. 

 Santa Cruz 



Tule r=Rliett] Lake. 



Modoc Co. 

 Nigger Slough. 



Los Angeles Co. 

 Santa Cruz 

 San Pasqual, 



San Diego Co. 

 San Jacinto Lake, 



Riverside Co. 

 Wilmington, 



Los Angeles Co. 

 Tulare Lake, Kings Co. 



Near Los Angeles 



Santa Cruz 



Santa Cruz 



Tulare Lake, Kings Co. 



Santa Cruz 



Point Finos. 



Monterey Co. 

 Seaside, Monterey Co. 



relative to the 



Datk 



May 1, 1910 



May 8, 1904 

 May 20, 



May 22, 1914 

 May 28. 



May 28, 1911 



Last of May, 



June, 1886 



About June 1, 



1883 

 June 1-3, 1914 



June 2, 1910 



June 3. 1896 

 June 5, 1906 



June 7, 1897 



June 10, 1900 



June 18-24, 

 1907 



June 25, 



June 26, 1883 

 June 26, 1883 

 July 7, 1907 

 July 24, 1883 



Aug. 9, 1914 

 Aug. 19, 1914 



nesting of the Kuildy Duc-k in California 



Authority 

 7 eggs, half-incubated 



Xkst Coxtknts and 



COXDiTIO.V 



8 eggs, fresh 

 Brood of young 



4 eggs 



12 eggs, considerably in- 

 cubated 

 Many nests 



5-11 eggs 



Breeding 



5 eggs 

 Nesting 



Willett, 1912a, p. 26 



Mailliard coll. 

 Belding, MS. 



Bryant, 1914e. p. 224 

 Grinnell, 1898, p. 12 



Willett and Jav, 1911. 



p. 158 

 Davie, 1889, p. 77 



Morcom, 1887, p. 38 



Ingersoll, 1884, p. 15 



Bryant, 1914e, p. 230 



17 eggs, slightly incubated Willett, 1912a, p. 26 



14 eggs, incubated 

 6 eggs, nearly hatched 

 (in Coot's nest) 



18 eggs, incubation 

 commenced 



3 eggs (incomplete set) 



Several broods 



Fresh eggs 



19 eggs 

 19 eggs 

 Several broods 



10 eggs (second laying: 

 incubation well ad- 

 vanced) 



3 young unable to fly 



3 young a tew days old 



Mailliard coll. 

 Sharp, 1907, p. 86 



Ingersoll coll. 



Willett, 1912a. p. 26 



Goldman, 19086, p. 202 



Davie, 1889, p. 77 

 Ingersoll, 1884, p. 15 

 Ingersoll, 1884, p. 15 

 Goldman, 19086, p. 202 

 Ingersoll, 1884, p. 15 



Squires, MS. 

 Squires, MS. 



