66 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



larger species of ducks, but feeds mainly with flocks of coots 

 (FvMca americana) in the shallow parts of the bays. Flocks 

 of 20 or more are sometimes seen, and when fired into while 

 flying, the birds will at once fall to the water and dive, soon 

 reappearing, however, and continuing their flight. When 

 swimming they often carry the tail, which is composed of 

 stiff, pointed feathers, elevated to a perpendicular position 

 or even directed forward. They ride deep in the water and 

 are able to sink beneath the surface without diving. 



The notes of this bird, according to Audubon, are uttered in 

 a low tone and closely resemble those of the female mallard. 



Food habits. — Audubon states that the ruddy duck when 

 living in fresh water feeds upon the roots, blades, and seeds 

 of aquatic grasses ; when on salt marshes it eats small univalve 

 shells, fiddlers, and young crabs, and on the seacoast devours 

 fry of various sorts.f McAtee records the bird as feeding 

 on wild rice, wild celery, pondweed, arrowhead, and the seeds 

 of waterlilies.J The two individuals taken in Alabama had 

 been feeding on the seeds and leaves of pondweeds and on 

 small snails. 



SNOW GOOSE; "BRANT:" Chen hyperborea hyperborea 



(Pallas). 



State records. — ^Although common winter residents about 

 the mouth of the Mississippi, snow geese apparently visit Ala- 

 bama only at irregular intervals. A. D. GoUott, of Bayou 

 Labatre, reports having killed one in Mississippi Sound in the 

 fall of 1909, and Amel Callaway, of Orange Beach, states that 

 early in November, 1915, a good many were seen passing 

 over in flocks with Canada geese, the white birds being more 

 numerous than the gray ones. On the Tennessee River, at 

 Muscle Shoals, snow geese are said to occur irregularly. F. W. 

 Scruggs states that about the year 1907 they were fairly 

 common during one season. 



BLUE GOOSE: Chen caertdescens (Linnaeus). 



State records. — The principal winter home of the blue goose 

 is about the mouth of the Mississippi River. Reports re- 



tAudubon, J. J., Ornith. Biog., vol. 4, p. S28, 1888. 

 tMcAt«e, W. L., Bull. 465. U. S. Dept. Agr., 1917. 



