RUDDY DUCK 



371 



Even the conceited, pompous 

 little drake should be satis- 

 fied with this record: (a) The 

 male has two distinct plu- 

 mages, one for summer and 

 one for winter, (b) It has 

 the most spectacular of all 

 duck courtship-displays, (c) 

 It has more local, alternative 

 names than any other duck, 

 (d) The male is the only 

 duck of its sex that invari- 

 ably assists in the raising 

 of the young, (e) It is the 

 only species of duck that 

 raises two broods in one sea- 

 son, (f) Except for some of 

 the eiders and scoters, the 

 tiny female lays the largest 

 of duck's eggs, (g) The male 

 is the only duck that possesses 

 an inflatable air-sac in the 

 neck, (h) The male is the 

 only duck that carries the 

 tail erect, (i) The male is the only duck that has a truly bright-blue 

 bill, (j) Neither sex can walk on land, (k) They both are credited with 

 the worst tempers imaginable. (1) It is rare for any female to be silent, 

 but the female Ruddy is. 



