102 DUCK SHOOTING. 



for food to the fresh-water ponds during the day and 

 at evening flies to the shores about the islands, where 

 the night is spent. The birds mate in late winter and 

 early spring and the broods are hatched in April. The 

 nest is placed in heavy grass or vegetation, which is 

 often so thick as to conceal the eggs. Often the nests 

 are placed at the foot of a palmetto or other bush. It is 

 said that many of these nests are destroyed by the burn- 

 ing of the grass, which takes place each year in certain 

 portions of Florida in order to make way for the fresh 

 grass for the cattle. 



The eggs of this species are said to be similar to those 

 of the ordinary black duck, but are a little paler and not 

 quite so large. It is altogether probable that all the 

 black ducks killed in Florida may belong to this species. 



The mottled duck described by Mr. Sennett as a sub- 

 species of the Florida duck, closely resembles it. The 

 cheeks, however, are somewhat streaked with brown, as 

 in the ordinary black duck, though the throat is un- 

 streaked and the general appearance of the bird is 

 spotted or mottled rather than streaked. The difference 

 in color of the speculum in these three forms of black 

 duck is a real one, and of importance. It denotes the 

 average effect of color independent of changes due to 

 the angle at which the light strikes them. 



Very little is known about the habits of this sub- 

 species, which appears to be confined to Eastern Texas 

 and Louisiana, and to extend its range north as far as 

 Kansas. 



