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ERISMATURA RUBIDA (Bonap). 



THE RUDDY DUCK : SPINB-TAIJ_.BD DUCK. 



Specific Gliaracter. — Adult — Pileuna and upper half of the nape uniform 

 black ; entire side of the head, below the eyes including the malar region and 

 xihin pure white ; rest of neck, entire upper parts, sides and flanks, rich chestnut 

 rufous or purplish ferruginous, wing coverts and middle of the rump, dusky gray- 

 ish brown, minutely mottled with paler remiges dull brownish dusky ; rectrices 

 brownish black, shafts deep black ; lower part white on the surface, but the 

 concealed portions of all the feathers dark brownish gray, showing when the 

 feathers are disarranged, and in midsummer specimens completely exposed by 

 abrasion of the tips of the feathers; jugulum strongly washed with fulvous butif, 

 this sometimes invading the abdomen. Lower tail coverts entirely white to the 

 roots of the feathers. Bill and edge of the eyelids grayish blue ; iris hazel ; feet 

 dull grayish blue, webs inclining to dusky ; claws grayish brown. 



Female. — Top of the head down to below the eyes, and upper parts generally, 

 dusky grayish brown, minutely freckled with pale grayish fulvous (more reddish 

 in the head) remainder of the head dirty grayish white, crossed longitudinally 

 by a strip of speckled dusky ; neck pale brownish gray fading into the white of 

 the chin. 



Length 14 to 17 inches ; wing, 5 to 6 ; tarsus, 1.2,5. 



Habitat. — The whole of North America breeding throughout its range. 



The Ruddy duck like the Buffle-head is peculiar to the North American con- 

 tinent and there it is found from Central America to the Arctic regions where the 

 bulk of them goes to breed early in April returning about the middle of October, or 

 a little later when they appear on our Ontario waters in great numbers. Although 

 it is not a good bird for food, large numbers are shot, so easily are they taken ; this 

 is mainly on account of the peculiar way it has of taking to flight, scuttling along 

 the top of the water for some distance before it gets under full speed ; it lets the 

 hunter paddle up pretty close, and then rising it afibrds an easy shot. Its food 

 consists of small fish, shell fish, water insects, etc, consequently its flesh is soft, 

 dark and fishy. A few probably breed in Southern Ontario. 



