108 WATER FOWL. 



mud Duck, and delights to paddle and feed in the 

 swamps and marshes, sifting the half-liquid ooze with its 

 bill, and extracting whatever nutriment it contains, be it 

 of plant, insect, or mollusk life. It is not particular as 

 to its diet, and swallows anything it may find that is eat- 

 able. The flesh of this bird is not usually as palatable as is 

 that of many other Ducks, although the quality varies of 

 course with that of its food, but sometimes it is decidedly 

 rank and fishy. It is a large bird, equal in size to the 

 Mallard, and the sexes resemble each other very closely. 

 Like the common Wild Duck, this species goes in flocks 

 without any regular order, each bird selecting his own 

 route totally regardless of his fellows, and frequently 

 they present a confused mass in the air. Again, if over 

 ponds, they wheel occasionally with some degree of 

 unison. 



ANAS OBSCURA. 



Geographical Distribution. Eastern North America, from 

 Labrador to Florida; and west to the Valley of the Mississippi. 

 Breeding throughout its range. 



Adult Male. Top of head and line on hind neck, black, 

 streaked with buff. Rest of head and throat, buff, streaked with 

 dusky. Remainder of plumage, dusky or brownish black; paler 

 beneath, all the feathers, save those on lower back and rump, 

 margined with ochraceous. Speculum, metallic violet, some- 

 times green, edged with black. Bill, yellowish green; nail, 

 dusky. Legs and feet, orange red; webs, dusky. Length, 

 about 22 inches; wing, n; culmen, 2^; tarsus, i-&. 



Adult Female. Resembles the male. Practically there is no 

 difference in the plumage of the sexes. 



Downy Young. To? of head, hind neck, and upper parts, 

 olive brown; rest of head, neck, and lower part, darkish buff, 

 lightest on belly. A dusky streak from bill through eye to occi- 

 put, and a dusky spot on ear coverts. Pale buff spots on border 

 of wing, and on each side of back and rump. 



