Duck-shooting 185 



feeling that some birds stand a chance of surviv- 

 ing man's wantonness, even if they be scoters. 



RUDDY DUCK 



(Erismatura jamaicensis) 



Adult male In full plumage, upper part of head, including eye and 

 back of neck, glossy black; sides of head and chin, white; 

 throat and rest of neck, back, upper tail-coverts, scapulars, and 

 flanks, bright reddish chestnut ; wing-coverts, lower back, and 

 rump, grayish brown; primaries, dull brown, speckled near 

 outer edge with gray ; tail, brownish black ; under parts below 

 the upper part of breast, silvery white, the hidden portion of the 

 feathers being gray ; the breast is tinged with rust color ; under 

 tail-coverts, white ; bill, bright blue ; eyelids, slate ; iris, brown ; 

 legs and feet, slate ; webs, dusky. 



Measurements Length, 16 inches; wing, 6 inches; oilmen, 1.60 

 inches; tarsus, 1.20 inches. 



Adult female Upper half of head, including eyes, dark brown ; 

 cheeks, lighter brown ; a white stripe from below the eye goes 

 to the nape ; chin, white ; throat and neck, brownish gray ; tips 

 of feathers on lower neck in front, white ; upper parts, dusky 

 brown, mottled and speckled with grayish buff; lower parts, sil- 

 very white, as in the male ; a yellowish wash on upper part of 

 breast ; sides and flanks barred with brown ; wings, scapulars, 

 and tail, dark brown, in some instances broadly margined with 

 gray ; under tail-coverts, white ; bill, slate ; legs and feet, slate ; 

 webs, dark. 



Measurements Length, 15.50 inches; wing, 5.50 inches.; culmen, 

 1.50 inches; tarsus, 1.12 inches. 



Young bird in fall plumage Top of head, brown ; chin, throat, 

 sides of head, grayish white ; back, scapulars, and rump, brown ; 

 under parts, silvery gray, frequently with tinges of rust. 



Downy young Upper parts and head, smoky brown; a brownish 

 white stripe beneath the eye posteriorly ; breast, sooty brown ; 

 under parts, grayish white. 



Eggs Twelve to eighteen in number, dull white in color, and 

 measure 2.45 by 1.80 inches. 



