306 ANATID^ : SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 



killed by A. W. Bray at Ipswich, Nov. 5, 1882 — the 

 first he ever killed in twenty years' experience in 

 gunning there. 



DUSKY DUCK. 



Anas obscura Gm. 



Chars. Size of the Mallard, and resembling the female of that 

 species, but the general coloration darker ; no decided white any- 

 where excepting the lining of the wings ; speculum violet, with 

 black bordering, without any white tipping of the coverts ; bill 

 greenish-yellow ; legs red. This, as well as all the River Ducks 

 (^Ajiatmce), are distinguished from the Sea Ducks by having no 

 lobe or flap on the hind toe. 



The characteristic and one of the commonest Ducks 

 of New England — a resident species, though most 

 numerous during the migrations, when those individu- 

 als which breed farther north and winter farther south 

 pass through. Those which do not nestle with us, 

 come in September from the north, the flight beginning 

 as soon as the young are grown strong of wing ; and the 

 departure from the north is completed in May. This 

 Duck is known to breed at large in New England, but 

 the greater number which pass the summer here resort 

 to the swamps of Maine. " Flappers," i. e., the young 

 before they can fly, are commonly seen in July, in broods, 

 swimming on ponds ; when molested they are very 

 expert in eluding pursuit, by scrambling out of the 

 water and hiding closely in the surrounding herbage. 

 At this season, also, the old birds shed their flight- 

 feathers ; they are for a time entirely deprived of 

 the power of flying, and may be observed skulking in 



