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the rustling of dry leaves, puts them on the alert ; and sometimes the 

 appearance of ix man at three hundred yards distance will cause them 

 to take wing. The only time at wdiich, by observing great caution, 

 they can be easily approached, is at early dawn, when they repair to 

 their feeding places. Tliey are not then so easily alarmed, and after a 

 short flight frequently alight again. At a later hour of the day — and 

 particularly a fine clear day — when startled, they will rise to a great 

 height, and fly a long distance before pitching again. It is invariably 

 more difficult to approach them after having been once or twice alarmed 

 than at first. The flesh of the black duck, if not superior, is at least 

 _equal to any of the larger ducks known in this part of Canada. It is 

 very much superior to that of the tame duck ; to which latter in voice, 

 size and shape — although like all wild birds, much finer in the lines of 

 beauty — it bears a strcmg and marked resemblance. The uniformity in 

 plumage distinguishing tlie black duck gives it, however, a claim to 

 distinctiveupss of species, although it may not be improbable that it has 

 a right in the paternity of some class of the domestic ducks as well as 

 the mallard. The black duck breeds here on the banks of remote 

 streams, small creeks, and lakes. The female lays from twelve to 

 fourteen eggs, and may be seen with a dozen young ones following her 

 early in the month of July. Of this number, pi'obably about six or 

 eight, frequently fewer, arrive at maturity, owing to their exposure to 

 the attacks of the fox, mink, weasel, and the whole family of larger 

 hawks and falcons. When they are first able to take wing the parent birds 

 and the young fly close together, but after having been shot at a few times 

 they separate, and afterwards fly singly or in pairs. Late in the fall, 

 when preparing to migrate, they, however, assemble in large flocks. 

 The best sport in the way of black duck shooting is during the evening 

 flights. In the dusk of the evening they become pei-fectly feaidess of 

 man, and come swooping down on the dead wing into the marsh or rice 

 field within ten or fifteen feet of their enemy. If black ducks are 

 hatched by a domestic hen, they are easily tamed, and become much 

 more docile and much more easily handled than the ordinary tame duck. 

 I once had a beautiful pair which were perfectly tame. I had taught 

 them to come when I whistled. On many an occasion, when out of 

 sight, some hundreds of yards off", in answer to my whistle, I have seen 



