36 
RUDDY DUCK. 
oy the concave form of the wings and their somewhat broad ends, the 
whistling sound produced by other species having more pointed and stiffer 
quills, not being heard in this, or only in a very slight degree. They rise 
from the water with considerable difficulty, being obliged to assist them- 
selves with their broad webbed feet, and to run as it were on the surface for 
several yards, always against the breeze, when it blows smartly. The 
strength of the muscles of their feet enables them to spring from the ground 
at once. When they are fairly on wing, they fly in the same manner as 
most of our travelling Ducks, sustain themselves with ease, and are apt to 
remove to great distances. They alight on the water more heavily than 
most others that are not equally flattened and short in the body ; but they 
move on that element with ease and grace, swimming deeply immersed, and 
procuring their food altogether by diving, at which they are extremely 
expert. They are generally disposed to keep under the lee of shores on all 
occasions. When swimming without suspicion of danger, they carry the 
tail elevated almost perpendicularly, and float lightly on the water ; but as 
soon as they are alarmed, they immediately sink deeper, in the manner of 
the Anhinga, Grebes, and Cormorants, sometimes going out of sight without 
leaving a ripple on the water. On small ponds they often dive and conceal 
themselves among the grass along the shore, rather than attempt to escape 
by flying, to accomplish which with certainty they would require a large 
open space. I saw this very often when on the plantation of General Her- 
nandez in East Florida. If wounded, they dived and hid in the grass ; but, 
as the ponds there were shallow, and had the bottom rather firm, I often 
waded out and pursued them. Then it was that I saw the curious manner 
in which they used their tail when swimming, employing it now as a rudder, 
and again with a vertical motion ; the wings being also slightly opened, and 
brought into action as well as the feet. They are by no means shy, for I 
have often waded toward them with my gun until very near them, when I 
cared not about shooting them, but was on the look-out for a new Rail or 
Gallinule, along the margin of the ponds. They are often seen in company 
with Taels, Scaup Ducks, Gadwalls, Shovellers, and Mallards, with all of 
which they seem to agree. 
My opinion that the males of this species lose the brightness of their 
spring dress before they return to us in autumn, is founded on the occurrence 
of multitudes of males at that season destitute of the garb in question, and 
my examination of many for the purpose of determining their sex and ascer- 
taining that they were old birds. In February, 1832, 1 saw immense flocks 
of Ruddy Ducks about a hundred miles up the St. John’s in Florida. They 
would start from the water, as our schooner advanced under sail, patting it 
with their feet, so as to make a curious and rather loud noise, somewhat 
