368 



ANAS OBSCURA (Gmel). 



THE BLACK MALLARD : BLACK DUCK. 



Specific Character. — Adult: Prevailing colour brownish black or dusky, the 

 feathers edged, more or less distinctly with pale grayish falvous ; head and neck 

 about equally streaked with grayish white, more ochraceous near the bill, and 

 dusky ; pileum nearly uniform dusky, and a dusky stripe back from the eye. 

 Speculum violet, changing to green in some lights, narrowly tipped with white 

 and with a broad subterminal bar of velvety black ; last row of coverts dusky 

 brownish broadly tipped with black. Sexes alike. Bill yellowish green, the 

 unguis dusky ; iris dark brown ; feet orange red ; the webs dusky. 



Total length, 22.00 inches; wing, 10.50 to 11..50 ; culraen, 2.00; tarsus, 

 1.70; middle toe, 1.90. 



Habitat. — Eastern North America, M'^est to Utah and Texas, north to Lab- 

 rador. 



The black duck is one of the common ducks of Ontario occurring on or near 

 all suitable streams or lakes. It is very fond of retiring to some pond in a piece 

 of woods or swam)) to raise its brood and as soon as the young are able to fly 

 well, they are taken each night about dusk to the adjoining river or lake return- 

 ing about daylight. These birds are said to keep moving about all night. They 

 feed upon roots, small shellfish, etc. The black ducks usually arrive in Ontario 

 the earliest of any of the ducks and remain the longest in the fall. Having 

 paired they retire to some secluded spot, make their nest on the ground under a 

 brush heap or other cover, and lay in it from 8 to 10 whitish eggs. The 

 female begins to lay about May 1st. It is considered one of the best ducks for 

 the table, as well as being one of the most abundant. 



