C. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut. 123 



Goose. That the hitter does not arrive till after the Canada Geese 

 have all come, and that they do not stay long, but pass southward— 

 hence their name. They are also noticeably smaller than the Canada 

 Goose. 



233. Anas boschas Linne. Mallard. 



A rare migrant. Have notes of its occurrence here September 30th, 

 October, and November 13th, 1875, and Mr. Grinnell saw it in Octo- 

 ber and November, 1876. Linsley gives it from Stratford. Capt. 

 Brooks writes me from Faulkner's Island, Conn., that they are not 

 abundant : " occasionally see a few with Black Ducks in the fall." 



234. Anas Obscura Gmelin. Black Duck. 



A resident, but most abundant during the migrations. Capt. 

 Brooks writes me that they " come in September and stay through 

 the winter. Leave in May and June." Linsley said that they 

 occasionally bred about Stratford, Conn. That their edible qualities 

 were early appreciated is seen from the writings of Thomas Morton, 

 who said (in 1632): "Ducks, there are of three kindes, pide Ducks, 

 gray Ducks, and black Ducks, in great e abundance: the most about 

 my habitation were black Ducks: and it was a noted custome at my 

 howse, to have every mans Duck upon a trencher, and then you will 

 thinke a man was not hardly used, they are bigger boddied, then the 

 tame Ducks of England : very fat t and dainty flesh. The common 

 doggs fees were the gibletts, unlesse they were boyled now and 

 than for to make broath."* 



235. Dafila acuta (Limn') Bonaparte. Pintail; Sprigtail. 



A rather rare winter resident. Have seen but few specimens. 

 Linsley found it at Stratford, Conn. Mr. Osborne saw one in March 

 (23), 1877. Mr. J. N. Clark, of Saybrook, Conn., tells me that he 

 does not consider it particularly rare ; in fact that he thinks it is 

 rather common in spring and fall in that vicinity — about the mouth 

 of the Connecticut. Dr. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, has two 

 specimens killed on the Connecticut River above Hartford, but they 

 are extremely rare there. 



* New English Canaan, p. 47. Reprinted in Peter Force's Historical Tracts, Tract 5. 



