Species IX. ANAS OBSCURA. 



DUSKY DUCK. 



[Plate LXXII. Fig. 5.] 



Arct. Zool. No. 469. — Lath. Syii. in., p. 545. 



Tins species is generally known along the seacoast of New Jersey 

 and tlie neighboring country by the name of the Black Duclc, 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 migrate 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 principal food consists of those minute 

 snail shells so abundant in the mai-shes. They occasionally visit the 

 sandy beach in search of small bivalves, and on these occasions some- 

 times 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 direc- 

 tion. In calm weather they fly high, beyond the reach of shot ; but 

 when the wind blows hard, and the gunner conceals himself among the 

 salt grass in a place over which they usually fly, they are shot down in 

 great 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 during 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 



(86) 



