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DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Genus ERISMATURA Bonap. 



ERISHATURA RUBIDA ( fFz/r ) 



Ruddy Duck. Bull Neck. 



AduJt male. Breeding plumage: Top of head and nape, black; sides of head, white; chin, 

 whitish ; throat, breast and sides of body, tlanlis, and rest of upper parts, deep rufous brown ; 

 wings, brown, without white patch; axillarg, grayish white, with pale brown or grayish 

 brown shafts; tail, lilack, the feathers stiff and pointed. 



(Adult male.) 



(A(Uilt female.) 



Adult jemale : The general color of the up])er parts is brownish gray ; sides of the head 

 and throat, whitish, shading into gray on the lower throat and upper breast; under parts, 

 silver white, as in the male. 



Length, 1.5.80; wing, 6; tarsus, 1.20; bill, 1..50. 



The Ruddy Duck may easil}' be distinguished from other species by its 

 small size, chestnut l)rown color, and stift", pointed tail feathers. 



It occurs throughout North America, ])reeding locallj' nearly throughout 

 its ranse. Jt occurs in winter south to Cuba and Guatemala and Northern 

 South America, and has Ijeen recorded from miiny of the West India Islands, 

 although ffrcat numbers remain in our Southern States during the winter. 

 These birds, when fat, are much esteemed by epicures. 



The eggs are described as six to ten in numlier, of dull white or buffy 

 white, and the nest is usually built on a marsh, but is sometimes deposited 

 on floating vegetable matter. 



