RIVER DUCKS 83 



subspecies, (Knight). Kennebec; (Dill). Knox; (Rackliff). Oxford ; breeds, 

 (Nash). Penobscot ; breeds locally along secluded streams and about ponds 

 where there are suitable meadows, (Knight). Piscataquis ; common, breeds, 

 (Homer). Sagadahoc; plenty, a few in summer, (Spinney). Somerset; 

 common summer resident, (Morrell). Waldo; breeds to some extent, 

 (Knight). Washington ; common, (Boardman). York; migrant, (Adams). 



The exact status of the two varieties of Black Ducks occur- 

 ring in Maine is still subject to some doubt but the following 

 seems very certain. The breeding birds which remain with us 

 through the summer and until October all seem to be the 

 Black Duck. It is a question whether or not any remain all 

 winter or how much later than October they do remain. It is 

 another question as to the time of their arrival in spring along 

 the coast, but the few spring birds I have had occasion to 

 examine from inland localities after the ice had left in late 

 April were all Black Ducks. From spring to fall they remain 

 on their inland breeding grounds about the lakes and streams, 

 forming family assemblies of ten to fifteen in late summer. 

 Some few nest among the islands and along the coast. They 

 are however commonest, and very general everywhere in spring 

 and fall. 



The nest is placed on the ground in grass or rushes, under 

 a bush on or near the shore, very often in some meadow or 

 swamp or on some island in a lake or pond. Six to twelve 

 elliptical pale buff eggs are laid. A nest from East Fairfield, 

 April 28, 1897, was composed of leaves and pine needles, lined 

 with feathers from the breast of the parent. This nest was 

 placed on the ground near a stump in the woods some distance 

 from the water. The eggs measure 2.34 x 1.60, 2.25 x 1.60, 

 2.32 X 1.64, 2.32 x 1.69, 2.26 x 1.60, 2.35 x 1.65, 2.33 x 

 1.66, 2.40 X 1.67, 2.26 x 1.65, 2.31 x 1.70, 2.31 x 1.68, 1.16 

 X 0.96, this latter egg being a runt and containing only white. 



During the spring the birds congregate in small flocks on 

 overflowed meadows and when disturbed rise saying "quack, 

 quack" and circle around overhead, finally settling in some 

 safer spot in the same or another meadow. At this season an 



