THE RED-LEGGED BLACK DUCK. 585 



north to Labrador, breeding southward to the northern parts of the United States." 

 — A. O. U. Now believed to be restricted to the eastern portion of this range. 



Range in Ohio. — Xot yet satisfactorily distinguished from that of the fol- 

 lowing variety. Probably not uncommon during migrations. If "Black Ducks" 

 formerly bred in the northern parts of this state, as Wheaton supposes, they were 

 probably of this form. 



THIS form and the next taken together (since their relations are not 

 clearly determined) are not nearly so common as the Mallard, which they 

 closely resemble in habits. They are perhaps more common upon the larger 

 reservoirs and Lake Erie than elsewhere, altho they do resort to the smaller 

 ponds and streams during migrations. 



The "Black Mallard," as it is called by sportsmen, is more frequently 

 seen in pairs and in small companies than in large flocks, indicating that 

 we are west of the center of abundance for the species. They are scarcely 

 as wary as their gray congeners, and their flesh is fully as excellent. 



It is a rare sight to find a company of these dusky birds, lulled to a 

 sense of security and disporting themselves freely upon the water. If it is 

 early morning the first t<i wake are busy "tipping" and dabbling for a 

 breakfast of cress and succulent roots, while others shake off the traces of 

 recent slumber by rising perpendicularly in the water and flashing the pure 

 white of their under wing surfaces in the morning sun. 



Meals are hurried and energetic for most, since they must needs pass 

 further north to breed, but it is pretty certain that some do nest in the north- 

 ern part of the state. At least I do not know how otherwise to interpret the 

 appearance of certain able-bodied pairs in late May and early August, or to 

 account for a flock of fourteen seen August 6th, 1901, upon Middle Bass 

 Island. 



The nest, when found, may be easily recognized even in the absence of 

 the parent, from the blackish feathers which enter into the lining, more or 

 less abundant according to the stage of incubation reached. 



No. 283. 



RED-LEGGED BLACK DUCK. 



A. O. U. No. 133a. Anas obscura rubripes Brewst. 



Description. — "Similar to A. obscura. but larger; the feathers of the pileum 

 conspicuously edged with grayish or fulvous ; the dark markings of the fore-neck 

 and the sides of" the head coarser, blacker and more sharply defined; the entire 

 throat usually streaked or spotted with blackish ; the tarsi and toes bright red ; the 

 bill yellow" i Brewster, original description). Av. of four specimens in O. S. U. 

 collection; wing 10.89 (276.6) : tail 4. it 1 104.4) '• culmen 2.1 1 (53.6) ; bill from 

 nostril 1.62 (41.2) ; tarsus 1.73 (43.9). 



