THE DUSKY DUCK. 127 



THE DUSKY DUCK. 



Screened by a small hemlock on the bank of the creek, I 

 have a good view of a flock of some dozen Dusky, or Black 

 Ducks, as they fly up the stream. They are very large, and 

 look quite dark, except the under side of the wings, which is 

 white, and which gives a fine effect in flight. How great 

 the rapidity and momentum of that flight is we have but 

 little idea, till the bird, ceasing the rapid strokes of its 

 wings, and bending them downward like the arcs of a circle, 

 prepares to alight. Then that smooth body, with out- 

 stretched head and neck, and wings which cut the air like 

 sabers, like a huge arrow rushes through the air; and it 

 must sail some distance before the force of its momentum is 

 sufficiently spent to allow it to reach the earth in safety. 



A few rods above me these Ducks drop gracefully down, 

 striking the water so easily, and parting it with such a 

 pretty plash, as to impress me with the beauty possible to 

 motion, and with the tranquil happiness of these creatures 

 in their undisturbed haunts. The stream being shallow, 

 they can easily reach their food by plunging their heads, in 

 which act they throw up their feet and hinder parts in a 

 manner quite amusing. They plunge, dart around in a 

 hurry-skurry manner, straighten out their necks and flap 

 their wings, thus seeming to sit almost on their tails on the 

 water; and, finally getting a glimpse of me, they rush out 

 of the water into the air with a splashing that brings me to 

 my feet; and I fire, bringing down a fine pair, which I 

 readily secure as they float down stream by wading in with 

 my long rubber-boots. About two feet long, of a dark 

 brown, the feathers edged with lighter, the beauty spot a 

 rich violet, the male and female about alike, this species 

 cannot easily be mistaken. It is by far the most common 

 Duck in this locality, being really abundant in the migra- 



