418 FEATHERED GAME 



THE RUDDY DUCK. 



(Erismatura jamaicensis.) 



This is strictly an American species. Its 

 range is the whole North American continent, 

 except possibly the northwest coast, passing 

 southward through the West Indies and Cen- 

 tral America to the northern shores of South 

 America. In any part of this vast extent of 

 country it is likely to be found during the 

 breeding season, making for so small a fowl a 

 large nest, near either salt or fresh water, and 

 as often as not, building on some floating mass 

 of rubbish, making a sort of houseboat for the 

 family during the hot weather. The clutch of 

 eggs is larger than is common in a duck's nest 

 — sometimes a dozen or more to a setting, gen- 

 erally of pale buff color and quite large in pro- 

 portion to the size of the bird. As to its choice 

 of breeding country and the range of its travels, 

 any place where there is water enough to float 

 a duck and food enough either of vegetable 

 matter or of shellfish to keep its little body 

 plump upon is apt to receive a call from this 

 small rover. 



