148 The Black Duck. — Anas ohscura. 



" The flesh of the young birds, at the season, when they are called 

 " Flappers," is very tender and dehcious, and it is a matter of regret that 

 Very many of them are then killed for the table." 



The following are Wilson's remarks on this species : — " This species is 

 generally known along the sea-coast of New Jersey, and the neighbouring 

 country, by the name of the Black Duck, being the most common and most 

 numerous of all those of its tribe that frequent the salt marshes. It is only 

 partially migratory. Numbers of them remain during the summer, and 

 breed in sequestered places in the marsh, or on the sea-islands of the beach. 

 The eggs are eight or ten in number, very nearly resembling those of the 

 Domestic Duck. Vast numbers, however, regularly migi-ate farther north 

 on the approach of spring. During their residence here in winter, they 

 frequent the marshes, and the various creeks and inlets with which those 

 extensive flats are intersected. Their principle food consists of those mmute 

 snail shells so abundant in the marshes. They occasionally visit the sandy 

 beach in search of small bivalves, and, on these occasions, sometimes cover 

 whole acres with their numbers. They roost at night in the shallow ponds, 

 in the middle of the salt marsh, particularly on islands, where many are 

 caught by the foxes^ They are extremely shy during the day ; and, on the 

 most distant report of a musket, rise from every quarter of the marsh in 

 prodigious numbers, dispersing in every direction. In calm weather they fly 

 liigh, beyond the reach of shot ; but when the wind blows hard, and the 

 gunner conceals himself among the salt gTass, in a place over which they 

 usually fly, they are shot down in gTeat numbers ; their flight being then 

 low. Geese, Brant, and Black Duck, are the common game of all our gunners 

 along this part of the coast dm-ing the winter ; but there are at least ten 

 Black Ducks for one Goose or Brant, and probably many more. Their 

 voice resembles that of the Duck and Mallard ; but their flesh is greatly 

 inferior, owing to the nature of their food. They are, however, large, heavy- 

 bodied Ducks, and generally esteemed. 



" I cannot discover that this species is found in any of the remote 

 northern parts of our continent ; and this is probably the cause why it is 

 altogether unknown in Europe. It is abundant from Florida to New Eng- 

 land ; but is not enumerated among the birds of Hudson's Bay, or Green- 

 land. Its chief residence is on the sea-coast, though it also makes extensive 

 excursions up the tide waters of ora- rivers. Like the Mallard, they rarely 

 dive for food, but swim and fly with great velocity*" 



The specific name is derived from the Latin {obscurus,) blackish or 

 dark coloured. 



The followmg is the technical description given by Audubon : — 



Anas obscura, Gmel. Dusky Duck. 



Tail much rounded^ of eighteen acute feathers, none of which are recurred ; 

 bill yellowish-green ; feet orange-red, the webs dusky ; upper part of head glossy 

 brownish black, the feathers margined with light brown ; sides of head and a band 

 over the eye light greyish-brown, with longitudinal dusky streaks ; general colour 

 blackish-brown, a little paler beneath, all the feathers margined with pale reddish- 

 brown ; wing-coverts greyish-dusky, with a faint tinge of green ; ends of secondary 

 sorerts velvet black ; primaries and their coverts blackish-brown ; secondarie* 



