RUDDY DUCK 
167. Hrismatura jamaicensis. 15 in. 
Bill short, broad, with an upturned appearance; tail 
feathers very narrow, stiff and pointed. Male in sum- 
mer, with black crown, whitish cheeks, throat and belly, 
and reddish-brown back, breast and sides. In winter, 
the cheeks are duller colored and the back mixed with 
grayish. Female with crown, back and sides grayish; 
cheeks showing traces of white as on the male. These 
ducks are very sprightly, either in the water, on land, 
or a-wing. Their flight is very rapid, their stiff, short 
Wings producing a buzzing sound that gives them the 
local name of Bumble Bee Coot. They have a great 
variety of names referring to some character of their 
form, such as Broad-bill Dipper, Bull-neck, Bristle- 
tail, ete. 
Nest.—Of grasses or rushes, lined with down, placed 
in tall grass near the water or in clumps of rushes 
growing out of the water; 6 to 12 grayish eggs (2.40 x 
1.75), very large for the size of the bird; June. 
Range.—Breeds in the interior of northern U. S. and 
in Canada; winters in southern United States. 
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