BLACK DUCK. 69 



Mr. Bates pointed out to me some of tlie stock, which he could 

 always recognize by their sitting deeper in the water, by their com- 

 paratively long, slim necks, and by a certain wild look of suspicion 

 and mistrust which clung to them through several generations. Mr. 

 Bates thought the individual referred to had been wounded in the 

 wing, and thus incapacitated for performing the usual journey south. 



The Mallard is reported breeding abundantly throughout Michigan 

 and Minnesota, while in the North- West Macoun says regarding it : 

 *'The most abundant duck of the North-West, breeding in nearly all 

 the marshes north of the boundary." 



It has also been observed at Hudson's Bay, and rarely in Alaska 

 and on the Fur Seal Islands. 



ANAS OBSCURA Gmel. 

 38. Black Duck. (1.38) 



Size of the Mallard, and resembling the female of that species, but dai-ker 

 and without decided white anywhere, except under the wings. Tail, with 

 16 to 18 feathers.. 



Hab. — Eastern North America, west to Utah and Texas, north to Labrador, 

 breeding southward to the northern United States. 



Nest, on the ground, built of grass, weeds and feathers. 



Eggs, eight to ten, yellowish drab or buff, shaded with green. 



Although there are several other ducks darker in color than this 

 species, it is still the "Black Duck" of the gunners all over the 

 continent, and is excelled by no other in the excellence of its flesh. 

 It is not so plentiful throughout Ontario as the Mallard, being rather 

 a bird of the sea coast, frequenting the salt marshes along the coast 

 of Maine, where it breeds abundantly. A few pairs have also been 

 found mating in the marsh along the River St. Clair, but such an 

 occurrence is by no means common. 



We are told that long ago the Black Duck was a regular visitor 

 to the marshy inlets around Hamilton Bay, but now there is so much 

 to disturb, and so little to attract them, that their visits are few and 

 far between. 



In the "Birds of Manitoba," they are spoken of as being very 

 rare, only two specimens having been obtained in ten years. At 

 Hudson's Bay only I'are stragglers have been noticed. 



