150 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



green, but most generally the latter color when fresh; elliptical; 

 six to ten in number; size about 2.25 by 1.60. This is one of the 

 most highly esteemed ducks, and its habitat is nearly cosmopolitan, 

 almost everywhere domesticated, and is the original of our barn- 

 yard duck. It is a common bird in North America at large, breed- 

 ing sparingly throughout the United States. Rare in New England, 

 scarcely found beyond Massachusetts, and is replaced farther northeast 

 by the Black Mallard or Dusky Duck. The nest is made on the ground 

 in wet places, of weeds, grass, feathers, etc. 



602. Black Mallard — anas obscura. The Dusky Duck or Black Duck, 

 as it is commonly called, is distributed throughout Eastern North America 

 from Labrador to Texas and it is found as far west as Utah. It is much less 

 common in the interior than along the Atlantic coast. The characteristic 

 and one of the commonest ducks of New England, where it breeds at 

 large, and from thence northeastward, but is most numerous during the 

 migrations. Mr. Capin, in "Oology of New England," says the eggs are 

 from six to twelve in number, usually seven or eight; are elliptical or 

 nearly so in shape; measure about 2.30 by. 1.70, and vary from creamy- 

 white to a pale buff color. He says the incubation period is from the last 

 of April to the early part of June. The nest he describes as placed on 

 the ground, in grass or rushes in the neighborhood of ponds, pools or 

 streams, in meadows, and sometimes in swamps. It is a large and neatly 

 arranged structure of weeds and grass, nicely hollowed and lined with 

 down and feathers from the breast of the bird. In rare instances it has 

 been known to nest in the hollow of a tree, or a "stub" projecting from 

 the water of a swamp. The bird may be known by its resembling the 

 female of the Mallard, A. boscas, but darker in color. 



Hab. Eastern North America, west to Utah and Texas, north to Labrabor, breeding southward to the 

 Northern United States. 



603. Florida Dusky Duck — anus fulvigula. This is a local, lighter- 

 colored race which is resident in Florida. Mr. Maynard says they are 

 smaller than the northern birds. According to his observations the eggs 

 are deposited during the first and second weeks in April. Nesting and 

 eggs are the same as those of the Black Mallard. Hab. Florida; Kansas. 



604. Gadwall — chaulelasmus streperus. Clay or creamy-buff; ellip- 

 tical; measuring a trifle over 2.00 by about i.SO; eight to twelve in num- 

 ber. The Gadwall or Gray Duck has nearly a general distribution throughout 

 North America and is also widely diffused in most parts of the world. In 

 North America it is not specially confined to the Arctic regions in the 



