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 
