102 GAME BIEDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Makks for field identification — Both sexes resemble female Mallard but 

 are darker in coloration; the general blackish coloration, the white wing 

 lining, and violet speculum framed in black are distinctive. 



Voice — A loud resonant "quack" like that of the Mallard (Chapman, 

 1912, p. 193). 



Nest — On the ground; constructed of weeds, grass, and feathers (authors). 



Eggs — 8 to 12, ovate to elongate ovate in shape, measuring in inches, 2.22 to 

 2.44 by 1.63 to 1.83 (in millimeters, 56.5 to 62 by 41.5 to 46.5), and averaging 

 2.36 by 1.69 (60 by 43) (28 eggs in U. S. National Museum); in color white 

 or creamy white; the shell having an oily texture. 



General distribution — Eastern North America. Breeds from central Kee- 

 watin and northern Ungava south to northern Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and 

 southern Maryland; winters from Nova Scotia south to southern Louisiana 

 and Colorado; west in migration to Nebraska and central Kansas; casual in 

 Bermuda, Jamaica and California (modified from A. O. U. Cheek-list, 1910, 

 p. 68). 



Distribution in California — One instance of occurrence: A single bird, 

 presumably a female, taken at Willows, Glenn County, February 1, 1911 (now 

 no. 17198 Mus. Vert. Zool.). 



The Black Duck, a near relative of the Mallard, is a species of 

 the eastern and middle western United States, and eastern Canada. 

 In the North Atlantic States it entirely replaces the Mallard as a 

 breeding species. There is but one record of its occurrence in Cali- 

 fornia. A bird, evidently a female, although the sex was not deter- 

 mined by dissection, was taken by a hunter at "Willows, Glenn County, 

 February 1, 1911. This individual was mounted by Vernon Shepherd, 

 a San Francisco taxidermist, and later presented to the Museum of 

 Vertebrate Zoology. This bird was evidently a straggler ; and the 

 Black Duck cannot be considered of more than accidental occurrence 

 in California. 



"The Black Duck breeds so early that young have been found at 

 Old Saybrook, Conn., May 5, and eggs at Rehoboth, Mass., April 30" 

 (Cooke, 1906, p. 25). 



"It is more common in the Atlantic Coast States than inland, and 

 when molested will sometimes pass the day at sea returning at night 

 to feed in the ponds and marshes" (Chapman, 1912, p. 193). 



"Like the Mallard, the Black, or Dusky Duck, feeds on wild rice, 

 buckwheat, weed seeds and nearly all manner of vegetable substances, 

 also devouring snails, frogs and other aquatic animals with a glut- 

 tonous greed, especially in the springtime" (Eaton, 1910, p. 186). 



The Black Duck resembles the Mallard in general habits and it is 

 to be looked for in situations frequented by the latter bird. Loveland, 

 Colorado, is the nearest place where this typically eastern species has 

 been previously recorded and it is not probable that any great number 

 of individuals will ever wander so far west as California. Additional 

 instances of occurrence should be reported for their scientific value. 



