Duck-shooting 187 



most of its range. The spring plumage of the 

 male is striking, but in his dress of red he is sel- 

 dom seen. This bird nests on the prairie sloughs in 

 company with the red-head and canvas-back, some- 

 times depositing its eggs in the nests of the former, 

 from which they can readily be distinguished by 

 their large size. The nest is built of rushes, often 

 detached and floating. The young are hatched 

 in July, and before September are fledged. We 

 often see the brood remaining on the ponds when 

 all the other ducks have taken flight, calmly wait- 

 ing for the approach of danger, then sinking out 

 of sight like a grebe, rising to the surface with 

 just its bill protruding. The ruddy ducks are 

 well distributed through the United States, in 

 October occurring inland and on the coasts, but 

 on the Atlantic they are not very abundant north 

 of Virginia. Off North Carolina, and farther 

 south, they are common, and seen in all the 

 brackish bays. Keeping by themselves, they take 

 to wing only when forced, and then fly a short 

 distance. After the morning shooting is over 

 the market gunner turns his attention to the 

 boobies, for this is the name they go by, and well 

 deserve. A number of boats quietly approach 

 the ducks, gradually rounding them into some 

 bay and lining out across its entrance ; then the 

 birds are started. Nothing will induce a ruddy 

 duck to fly over land ; it prefers open water and 



