BLACK BUCK. 79 



lirnwn, the greater being tipped with black, preceded by a wiiitc band. Tail, brown, witti tbe feathers spotted and edged 

 witli wliite. Under surface, not described, excepting the under wing coverts wliich are black with greenish reflections, 

 creamy-white, finely banded everywhere, excepting on under wing coverts and axillaries, but mors prominently on sides, 

 v'ith brown. Tips of feathers of flanks, white. Iris, brown; feet, icddisli-orange, hill, greenish-brown. 



Adu/tfema!" General color, dark-brown, with feathers edged and streaked with yellowisli-ruf lus which predominates 

 below and which is iinged on breast, sides, flanks, and under tail coverts with chestnut. Otherwise similar to the adult 

 male. Youny. Similar to the adult female but paler. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 The male may be known by the green head, and the female by the predominating white on tail. Distributed, in sum- 

 mer, throughout the West and North ; wintering in the South. Not very common in New Kngland during migration?*. 



DMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 23"50; .stretch, 55-50; wing, U-OO; tail, SSO; l)ill, 

 2-25; tarsus, r75. Longest specimen, 25*00; greatest extent of wing, 28-75; longest wing, 11-5(1; tail, 4-00; bill, 230; tar- 

 sus, 1-90. Shorte-st .specimen, -22-00;. smallest extent of wing, 22"25; shorte.si wing, 10-50; tail, 3-60; bill, 2' 15; tarsus, rCO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of weeds, grass, etc. Eygs, six to ten in numlier, elliptical 

 in form, greenish-brown in color. Dimensions from r40x225 to 1-70x2-35. 



HABITS. 



Although I have occasionally taken specimens of the Mallard Duck in New England, 

 they are far from being common here. I have also found them, in winter, in Florida, but 

 never very abundant, nor do I think that any breed in the State, the great strong-hold of 

 the species, appearing to be in the West. Those which I observed in Florida, were quite 

 tame, insomuch so that I have walked within a few feet of them, as they sat in the small 

 pools on the marshes, and shot them, as they rose, with dust shot. Although usually a riv- 

 er Duck, those that I have seen, both North and South, were in pools on salt marshes, or 

 in creeks in which the tide rose and fell. In general habits, the Mallards closely resemble 

 the following species but are, however, more often domesticated, and those which have 

 been-bred in this condition for many years, retain the plumage of the original birds so well, 

 that it is often impossible to detect any difference, and they readily become feral, associa- 

 ting with wild Ducks. 



ANAS OBSCUEA. 



Black Duck. 



Anas obscura G.V., Syst, Nat. I; 1788, 541. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn Size, large. Form, robust. Color. Adult male. Dark-brown throughout streaked on head, neck, and ab- 

 domen with pale reddish-yellow; and feathers of remainder of body, e.specially below, edged with yellowish. Under wing 

 coverts, axillaries, and tips of secondaries, white. Speculum, green with violet reflections, surroutided by black. Feet, 

 grceni.sh-yellow. Iris, brown. Bill, green i.sh-brown. Adult female and Youny. Similar, but paler. Ncsllinr/s. Above, 

 including stripe behind eye, yellowish-brown, with several .spots of buffy-yellow. Beneath, pale bufi'y-ycllow. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Readily known by the univer.sally dark colors. Florida specimens are not only smaller in size but are lishter in color 

 than Northern birds, the number of tail feathers is less, and there are longitudinal streaks above of yellowish in males. 

 Di.stributed, in summer, throughout Eastern North America, from Labrador to Texas ;wintors from JLis-ac'iusctts. s.iuth. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 22-.'>0; stretch, 35'80; wing, 10 50; tail, 3-38; bill, 

 l-!)0; tarsus, 1-85. Longest spceiiuen, 21-00; greatest extent of wing, 37-50; hmgcstwing, II 'CO: tail.3 5:1; bill,2-i0; t:u-sus, 

 215. Shortest speciuion, 21 -((0; smallest extent of wing, 31-00; shortest wing, 10-00; tail. 312; bill, |-75; tir^u-. I 00 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Egys, six to ten in niiml)or, illipti 

 cal in form, and greenish-brown in color. Dimensions from 1 -40 x i!-25 to I -75 x 2-35. 



56 



