Birds of Indiana. 597 



quiet waterways until the young know how to fly. By the middle of 

 July or first of August these flocks sometimes number 200 ducks. 

 About the middle of August most of the ducks that breed with us 

 disappear. Mr. Deane says some gunners are satisfied that they move 

 north, and then return with others of their species a month later. I 

 myself can not believe they go south so early, and we know that they 

 leave our grounds. 



The fall migrations begin soon after the middle of September. By 

 the 25th, usually, many small flocks are observed. Frequently good 

 Mallard shooting may be had in September, but the main flight is 

 during October. Large numbers, however, remain until severe 

 weather begins, and then suddenly leave. 



Mr. Parker informs me that thousands are shot every year about the 

 lakes in Lake County. Their numbers are rapidly diminishing as 

 swamps are drained, marshes reclaimed, and lakes reduced in size. 

 Cities are built upon the shores of their choicest resting places, 

 and the city people seek their favorite breeding grounds for pleasure 

 or for rest. The dry summers which have prevailed during the past 

 six or eight years have in many ways had an effect upon both plant and 

 animal life. The effect upon birds has been noticeable in many ways. 

 The lack of rain in the summer and fall of 1891 was very unusual. 

 Small water courses, swamps, ponds, and much of the area of some of 

 our -lakes became dry. Writing under date of November 9,- 

 1891, Mr. Ruthven Deane says, at E^iglish Lake, the greater part 

 of the Lake is an exposed mud flat. I have seen Pintails and Mallards 

 alight in the soft mud and wallow around like so many gulls. 



The Mallard is the ancestor of the common domestic duck. Some- 

 times there are found hybrids between the Mallard and the Pintail. 

 Mr. Deane writes me of a fine specimen of this kind taken several years 

 ago at English Lake. He says he has seen many of these hybrids, and 

 as a rule the plumage is quite evenly divided. 



29. (133.) Anas obscura Gmel. 



Black Duck. 

 Synonym, Dusky Duck. 



Male. — Prevailing color dusky, the feathers bordered with dull 

 ochraceous; head and neck, dull buff, everywhere streaked with dusky; 

 no black at base of the bill; speculum usually deep violet, resembling 

 female Mallard, but distinguished from it by the absence of white on 

 wing. Female. — Smaller; similar. 



