124 



laVEli DUCKS. 



salt waters. Easily tamed and is the origin of many of our 

 domestic ducks. 



Fig. 141. 



Fig. 142. 



nv, B, a, 1. 1-12. 

 . BLACK DUCK, A 



IV, B, a, 2. 1-12. 

 OBSCURA. 23.00 ; bill, 2.00 ; dark 

 brown with all the feathers, especially below streaked and 

 margined with reddish-yellow ; speculum, green, bordered by 

 black only, tig. 142. Female and young with rather more 

 yellowish ; in all stages the throat is clear yellowish with few 

 or no spots ; feet, brownish-orange; bill, greenish. Breeds 

 from Massachusetts northward in May ; common ; more abun- 

 dant during migration in April and Sept. ; winters from Mass. 

 to the Carolinas. In rising from the water or land, springs 

 into air to the height of ten feet or more before darting away 

 in swift flight. More often found on fresh than salt water. 

 2*. RED-LEGGED BLACK DUCK, A. o. rubripes. 



Larger than 1, general- 

 ly darker; throat, 

 thickly spotted, flg. 

 143; bill, yellow, feet, 

 red. Breeds north of 

 the U. S. ; migrates 

 southward in Oct. to 

 winter in great num- 

 bers from Mass. south 

 to the Chesapeake; 

 goes north in April. 

 Occurs mo^e often on 



IV , B, a 2*. 1-2. 



