392 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



Widgeon consists of 14 feathers ; the two long feathers, exteriorly 

 edged with greenish-black. 



In the female the upper plumage is dark liver-brown, edged and 

 remotely barred with pale brown and white. The intermediate wing 

 coverts are merely edged with white, and there is no green on the 

 head. The tail also shorter and not so tapering. About 2 inches 

 shorter than the male. 



DUSKY DUCK. 



(Anas ohscura, Gmel. Lath. Synops. iii. p. 545. Wilson, viii. 

 p. 141. pi. 72. fig. 5. BoNAP. Synops. No. 327. Dusky Duck, 

 Penn. Arct. Zool. No. 496. Phil. Museum. No. 28S0.) 



Sp. Charact. — Speculum violet-blue with green and amethystine 

 reflections, margined with black ; under wing coverts and long 

 axillaries white ; tail of 16 feathers. — Male and female nearly 

 alike ; both blackish-brown, the feathers edged with paler tints : 

 the young and female darker. 



This species seems to be an exclusive inhabitant of 

 America, being met with from Labrador to Florida, but is 

 not found in the higher boreal regions of the continent. It is 

 generally known by the improper name of the ' Black Duck,' 

 though it is merely dusky, and both sexes, nearly alike in 

 plumage, have a great resemblance to the female of the 

 common Mallard. It is a numerous and common species in 

 the salt marshes, as well as fresh-water rivers and lakes. 

 It is only partially migratory, many often wintering in the 

 Middle and Southern States, where they also pass the 

 summer and breed from the Carolinas to Labrador,* in 

 retired places in the fresh water marshes, or in the sea 

 islands, making a nest of rank weeds. The eggs, 8 to 15, 

 are of a dull ivory white, and palatable to the taste. 



* Audubon, by letter. 



