ANATIX^ — THE DUCKS — ANAS. 



501 



It has not been taken on the Pacific coast, so far as I am aware, nor is it known 

 west of the JVIississippi Valley. A single specimen is reported by Blakiston as hav- 

 ing been taken near York Factory, on Hudson's Bay. That the species occurs in 

 Labrador and breeds there, is attested by a set of eggs in my cabinet collected there 

 by a correspondent of Mr. Moschaler, of Herrnhut, Saxony. 



It is very abundant in Nova Scotia, especially in the vicinity of Halifax, where 

 it has been successfully reared in confinement, and domesticated by ]\Ir. Andrew 

 Downes. Mr. Boardman informs me that it is very numerous in the summer near 

 Calais, breeding there in great abundance. It is more or less common in all parts of 

 Xew England, and is present in INIassa- 

 ehusetts all the year. The birds found 

 in winter are said to be of a smaller and 

 different race from the summer visitants ; 

 but I can find no evidence of the correct- 

 ness of this statement. In severe winter 

 weather they are driven to the open sea, 

 and their numbers are then greatly re- 

 duced. This bird is known to our hunters 

 only as the '" Black Duck." 



According to Giraud, it is only partially 

 migratory on Long Island, but is more 

 abundant in winter than in summer. In 

 the latter season it is rarely seen, as it 

 keeps concealed in the tall grass, which 

 grows luxuriantly in the places it selects 

 for its abode. As it subsists on roots and 

 small shellfish, so abundant on the salt- 

 marshes during the season of reproduc- 

 tion, it has no occasion to leave its secluded 

 retreats in quest of food, either for itself 

 or its young. In the selection of its sum- 

 mer residence it so carefully avoids places 

 visited by man, that its nest is seldom 



met with. A friend of Mr. Giraud is stated to have found on the 19th of May, on 

 the south side of the island, tAvo nests, both made of very coarse materials. One 

 contained seven, the other nine eggs, all of a dull Avhite color. They were placed 

 under a hen, and eleven of the sixteen were hatched. Their foster-mother could not 

 restrain them from their prolonged visits to the creek, and it became necessary to 

 confine them in a pen. There they were very uneasy, and refused to eat any kind of 

 grain, but eagerly devoured clams and all kinds of shellfish. When seven weeks old 

 they were given to another gentleman, who succeeded in domesticating them. In 

 their wild state, however, this species is not infrequently "baited" with corn and 

 other kinds of grain. 



Mr. Giraud states that the most successful mode of procuring this species on Long 

 Island is what is there known as " dusking." This is practised on moonlight evenings 

 by lying concealed in places it is in the habit of frequenting. Perfect silence must 

 be observed, as the slightest noise will frighten it away. By this method of hunting 

 large numbers are frequently killed. Two celebrated hunters residing at South Oyster 

 Bay informed Mr. Giraud that while dusking one evening they killed ninety-nine 

 birds, and would have killed more, but for the want of ammunition. 



