April, 1892.] 
AND OOLOGIST. 
61 
The Ruddy Duck. 
At my home at Beaver, Beaver County, 
Penn., (where it must be understood all 
the observations about to be given were made), 
this species ( Erismatura rulrida) is one of the 
most abundant and best known Ducks during 
the migrations, and, though small of size, one 
of the most highly-prized for the table, con- 
trary to the rule among the Fulicjulinw. 
Pushing north from their wintering resorts to 
the south ward, — though it is possible that some 
few do actually spend the inclement season in 
this locality, wandering about from place to 
place in search of food, — the van appears in 
straggling numbers on our streams sometime in 
March, but soon they become fairly abundant, 
and thus remain until about April 15th, when 
they disappear. Singly and in twos and threes, 
or more commonly in flocks of a dozen or more, 
they rarely miss the opportunity to alight, 
which the smooth water at the mouth of the 
Beaver affords, there to feed, rest, and recruit 
for the next stage of their long journey. 
Many a time before sunrise on a frosty March 
morning, peering out from my hiding-place 
among the willows, or sitting motionless in the 
stern of a drifting boat, have I watched a group 
of these Ducks disporting in the shallow' water, 
swimming about from place to place, and rais- 
ing themselves in the water to flap their wings. 
They come within range, and not seldom, — a 
flash, a report, and the smoke clearing away 
reveals one or more of their number lying dead 
or sorely wounded, while the remainder, panic- 
stiiclun, ily in confusion up the Beaver 1 
may add that it is a notorious fact among the 
gunners here that no Duck which does this 
ever returns. 
The line of water-fowl migration through 
Beaver County appears to extend down the 
valley of Raccoon Creek to its mouth, thence 
up the Ohio to the mouth of the Beaver and up 
this latter stream. In the fall the directions 
are of course reversed. At that season they 
arrive the latter part of October, though from 
lack of sufficient data the time of their depart- 
ure cannot be given. 
Whatever these Ducks may have to fear from 
beast or bird of prey, man is undoubtedly their 
worst enemy. What with being persecuted 
well-nigh unto death wherever they may 
attempt to settle for the winter, forced to 
wander from place to place in a vain search for 
that which is not, living in incessant fear of 
their lives, it is little wonder that they hasten 
to push northward at the first breath of spring. 
But the sequel shows them their troubles have 
but just begun, for scarcely is their presence 
known along the line of their path, than every 
owner of a “ shooting-iron,” from the old flint- 
lock musket of a century ago down to the 
latest improved breech-loader, is literally “up 
in arms ” against them. Slaughtered by the 
score, and that, too, usually in mere sport, 
decimated wherever they may attempt to rest, 
frightened by those noisy inventions of men, 
railway-trains and steam-boals, baffled well- 
nigh at every point, still the thinned ranks 
keep on, only to be overtaken and driven back 
by storms in front. Again and again they 
advance, again and again are driven back, but 
finally, the weather having settled, the surviv- 
ors are enabled to reach their breeding- 
grounds in the British possessions, where 
only may they rear their young in comparative 
peace. But with the approach of winter in 
increased numbers they must needs return 
and do it all over again. Ah, however humble 
our lot in life may be, or how much of a 
struggle it may be to keep soul and body 
together, ought we not to be thankful that we 
are not they '? 
Apropos of Ducks being driven back by 
storms, I would say that on April 6, 1889, 
occurred the most notable instance of this kind 
that has come under my observation. That was 
the greatest day for Ducks I ever saw. We had 
had comparatively pleasant weather for a week 
or so previous, so that the bulk had left, but 
the night before it grew very cold and stormy, 
and about two inches of snow fell. No doubt 
the storm was more severely' felt farther to the 
northward, for that morning the Ohio was 
literally crowded with ducks. Flock after 
Hock came down the Beaver, circled around for 
a short time and then settled. It is perhaps 
needless to add that the whole shooting frater- 
nity was very busy that day, but still the Ducks 
kept coming, until it almost seemed there could 
not be room for more. It is a noteworthy fact 
that the Ohio marked the limit of their south, 
ward movement, for a visit to Raccoon Creek 
failed to discover a single individual. Nor did 
the Ducks alone suffer from the storm; other 
water-fowl accompanied them, and some 
migrating land birds were also driven back. 
As the afternoon wore away, the sun coming 
out warm, they began to go north again, until 
by evening but a very few of that mighty host 
remained. 
The Ruddy as a diver is more expert than 
some of its allies, as I have found by experi- 
