THE BLACK DUCK. 



USKY DUCK, Black Mal- 

 lard, Black English Duck, 

 (Florida), are some of the 

 names by which this well- 

 known member of the 

 family is recognized throughout east- 

 ern North America, west to Utah, and 

 north to Labrador. It is much less 

 common in the interior than along 

 the Atlantic coast. It is called the 

 characteristic and one of the com- 

 monest Ducks of New England, where 

 it breeds at large, and from thence 

 northeastward, but is most numerous 

 during the migrations. 



The nest of the Black Duck is 

 placed on the ground, in grass or 

 rushes in the neighborhood of ponds, 

 pools, and streams, in meadows and 

 sometimes in swamps. It is a large 

 and neatly arranged structure of weeds 

 and grass, hollowed and lined with 

 down and feathers from the breast of 

 the bird. In rare instances it has 

 been known to build its nest in the 

 hollow of a tree, or a "stub" projecting 

 from the water of a swamp. Mr. 

 Frazer found the nest of this Duck in 

 Labrador usually placed upon the out- 

 reaching branches of stunted spruces, 

 which are seldom higher than four 

 feet. 



The eggs of this species are from 

 six to twelve in number, usually seven 

 or eight, and vary in color from pale 

 buff to pale greenish buff. The nest- 

 ing period is from the last of April to 

 the early part of June. 



The Black Duck is a very wary 

 creature, exceedingly difficult of ap- 

 proach. They are found in great num- 



bers, except when congregated on salt 

 water, five to ten being an average 

 flock started from pond and feeding 

 ground. 



During very severe winters, says 

 Hallock, when every sheet of water is 

 bound in with a thick covering of ice, 

 the Black Ducks are driven to warm 

 spring holes where the water never 

 freezes. The approach of evening 

 drives the Ducks from the bay or 

 sound, where they have been sitting 

 during the day, and they seek these 

 open inland spots for food and shelter. 

 Brush-houses are constructed of sedge, 

 cedar boughs, etc., at the mouths of 

 fresh water rivers and creeks, in places 

 where the marsh land is low and inter- 

 sected by branches of the main stream. 

 Here the Ducks come to feed at night 

 and are taken by hunters who are con- 

 cealed in the bushes. These houses 

 are left standing, however, and the 

 wary Ducks soon avoid entirely this 

 locality, and feed elsewhere. The 

 brush -house building on feeding 

 grounds cannot be too severely con- 

 demned. 



Hallock observes that of all the 

 birds which during spring and fall 

 traverse our country probably none 

 equal these Ducks in point of size, num- 

 bers and economic value. The group 

 is confined neither to the sea coast, 

 nor to the interior, but is spread out 

 over the whole breadth of the conti- 

 nent, in summer extending its migra- 

 tions to the furthest north, and in 

 winter proceeding only so far south as 

 it is forced to by the freezing of the 

 waters of its northern home. 



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