2l6 



KEY TO THE WATER HIRUS OF FLORIDA. 



ber of specimens near Cape Canaveral. The eggs are greenish white and 

 usually from se^■en to ten in number. 



The Mallard is known to cross with various species, some sixty or se^■entv 

 hybrids having been recorded : the most conuuon crosses being with the 

 Pintail, Black Duck, and Widgeon. The female mav always be distin- 

 guished from the Black Duck by the white border of the specidum. 



The male says, "Drake, drake, drake, drake," several times in a huskv 

 voice and also " Shwipe," low and husky like a Black Duck. The female 

 "quacks." Drakes rarely "quack": in most species of ducks it is usually 

 the female. 



ANAS OBSCURA Gmel. 

 Black Duck. Dusky Duck. 



Head and neck pale brown, finely dotted 

 and streaked with dark brown : top of the 

 head darker than the cheeks ; general plu- 

 mage dark brown ; feathers edged with pale 

 buff: speculum purple edged with black; 

 bill yellowish green with dark nail, no black 

 at the base ; feet orange red with dusky 

 webs; the color of the feet varies. 



Length, 21; Wing, 10.75: Bill. 2.10: Tar- 

 sus. 1.75. 



This species may always be easilv 

 distinguished from the female of 

 the jNIallard bv the absence of the 

 white stripe on the speculum. It is 

 pretty well distribtited o\'er North 

 America and breeds from New 

 England northward. 



The male savs : " Drake, drake, 

 drake, drake,"' and also " Shwipe," 

 in a husky \-oice : the female " quacks." 



It ranges in winter to Cuba and the Antilles and is common in Florida, 

 where it may easily be distinguished from the local species by the streaked 

 cheeks and throat. It is also darker in color than the Florida Black Duck. 

 The eggs are nine to twehe and are pale greenish white. 



