The Ruddy Duck 



Authorities. — Gambel (Erismatura rubida), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, 

 i., 1849, p. 226 (Calif.); Ingersoll, Orn. and 061., vol. ix., 1884, p. 15 (desc. nest, eggs, 

 habits; Santa Cruz); Wetmore, Condor, vol. xx., 1918, p. 19 (anat.; tracheal air-sac). 



IT IS REPORTED of a South Sea missionary that, when approached 

 by a band of cannibals brandishing spears of sharks' teeth, instead of 

 fleeing in terror, he ran forward and embraced the chief with such show 

 of friendliness that he completely won the savage heart. In such manner, 

 the Ruddy Duck would conquer the heart of the sportsman ; for when 

 approached by the swift-urging punt, instead of flying at fair range and 

 inviting attack, he waits in mild-eyed curiosity until the sportsman's 

 ardor is lost in shame and admiration. His flesh, therefore, has been 

 generously voted "tough" and "stringy"; and you must not shoot a 

 Ruddy, please! 



These birds are chiefly characterized by a certain jauntiness of bear- 

 ing, quite in keeping with their bewitching chunkiness. They ride the 

 water like corks, and their tails are most frequently cocked up, wren- 

 fashion. These saucy tails are composed of stiff, spiny feathers, having 

 shafts denuded toward the tips, more or less, according to season, so 

 that the birds are popularly known as Pintails, Sprig-tails, Quill-tails, 

 Spine-tails, etc., in confusion with Dafila acuta tzitzihoa, which owes its 

 common name not to the stiffness but to the graceful length of its caudal 

 appendage. 



Another nickname applied to the birds by California sportsmen is 

 "Spat," or "Spatterer." This is said to have been applied because of 

 the noisy strokes made by the duck's feet upon the surface of the water 

 as it is getting under way; but, somehow, I fancy that it is rather the 

 combination of dandified gentility and squattiness which makes the name 

 "Spat" stick. 



Besides being always underlaid with a coat of fat, when in good con- 

 dition, the garments of these birds are made extra thick, so that they 

 may spend a great deal of time under water. Although not quite so 

 agile as the Bufflehead at the moment of diving, they are excelled by 

 no other duck in their powers of endurance under water, diving rather 

 than flying when harassed, and emerging at great distances. Indeed, 

 the Ruddy has the Grebe-habit of swimming, under persecution, with 

 only the nostrils or head exposed. 



A drake which I once quietly followed about, in a canoe upon a 

 northern lake in nesting time, seemed rather to enjoy the game, although 

 he was more sophisticated than some. The first thing to observe in 

 addition to his striking general beauty, chestnut plumage relieved by 

 black and white on head and neck, was the brilliant cobalt hue of his 



1841 



