94 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



were never numerous enough to account foi- the vast numbers of 

 males to be found. 



" On August 23rd, 1878, I visited Stewart Island, about ten miles 

 to the seaward of St. Michael's. As I neared the island in my kjak, 

 I found the water literally black with the males of this species, which 

 were united in an enormous flock, forming a continuous band around 

 the outer end of the island for a distance of about ten miles in 

 length, and from one-half to three-fourths of a mile in width. As the 

 boat approached them, those nearest began to rise heavily by aid of 

 wings and feet from the glassy surface of the undulating but calm 

 water. The first to rise communicated the alarm to those beyond, 

 until as far as could be seen the water was covered with flapping 

 wings, and the air filled with a roar like that of a cataract. The 

 rapid vibration produced in the air by tens of thousands of wings 

 could be plainly felt. 



" In all my northern experience among the water-fowl which flock 

 there in summer, I never saw any approach to the number of large 

 birds gathered here in one flock, nor shall I soon forget the grand 

 •effect produced by this enormous body of birds as they took wing and 

 swept out to sea in a great black cloud, and settled again a mile or so 

 awav." 



Genus ERISMATURA Bonap. 

 ERISMATURA RUBIDA (Wils.). 



61. Ruddy Duck. (167) 



J/a/e iu fiUf phiincKje: — Bill, slaty -Wue; the nail, black ; neck all round and 

 the upper parts, bright chestnut ; the lower parts, silky white, watered with 

 dusky ; chin and sides of the head, white ; the crown and nape, black. Female: — 

 Brown above, finely dotted and waved witli dusky ; paler and duller below, 

 with sometimes a slight tawny tinge, whicli also occurs on the side of the head. 

 Length, 14-17; wing, 5-6; tarsus, 1^. 



Hab. — Northern North America, generally breeding throughout its range. 



Nest, on the bog near the water. 



Eggs, five to ten ; grayish-white. 



Mr. Shields writes from Los Angeles, California, that it breeds there 

 abundantly, preferring the abandoned nest of a coot to one of its own making. 



The Ruddy Duck is veiy generally distributed throughout Ontario, 

 but, except near its breeding places, it appears only as a visitor in 

 spring and fall. At the St. Clair Flats, I have seen it in summer, 

 and have been told that a few pairs breed there every season. The 



