THE RUDDY DUCK 421 



his neighbors that he looks like a craft danger- 

 ously overloaded. In swimming he often erects 

 his spiny tail straight over his back and jets it 

 in fan fashion, presenting a curious appearance 

 as if using it for a sail. 



His feet are proportionately large, but Mr. 

 Ruddy is amply able to manage them and swims 

 easily and at good speed. 



The Ruddy will decoy to anything in the 

 shape of ducks and be glad of the chance. The 

 bird is called by a dozen or more titles — any 

 name from teal to coot will do — but most of 

 them meanly twit him of the scrubbing brush 

 which he wears in the place of a tail, such as, 

 ''Stiff Tail," ''Spine Tail," "Broad-billed 

 Coot, " " Bumblebee Coot, " " Salt Water Teal, ' ' 

 and "Gray Teal." The last two are the names 

 to give him when you wish to sell him. The 

 average man will praise any duck's flesh if he 

 thinks it is a "teal." 



For a short time in the spring, about the sea- 

 son of the Easter bonnet and the relapse into 

 the church-going habit by the young man of 

 fashion, the Ruddy Duck blossoms out in a suit 

 which is the equal in style of any donned by 

 his broad-footed neighbors. Brightly colored 



