SHOAL-WATER DUCKS. 203 



A squawker or duck call is thus described, and to be used when 

 one is not proficient with the means nature has provided. " Take 

 a tube of wood or metal, bamboo cane is usually the best, about 

 three-quarters of an inch in diameter inside, and four to eight 

 inches in length. A plug about three inches long is fitted to one 

 end, and after being split in two, one half is grooved to within a 

 quarter of an inch of its smaller end, the groove being perhaps a 

 quarter of an inch wide, and of the same depth. The tongue is 

 simply a thin piece of steel, copper or brass, which should be ham- 

 mered to increase its elasticity; it should be about two and a half 

 inches long, and from three-eighths to a half an inch wide, at one 

 end, which should also be thinner than the other, the corners 

 should be rounded. The tongue is then placed over the grooved 

 half, the round end nearly to the extreme smaller end of the plug, 

 and the tongue completely covering the groove. The other half 

 of the plug should be shortened about an inch and a half from its 

 smaller end, and then being placed on the grooved half, thus hold- 

 ing the tongue fast, both should be pushed firmly into the tube. 

 By blowing in the other end of the tube the call is produced, the 

 tone, degree of firmness, etc., of which, is regulated by the shortened 

 half of the plug, moving it in or out as a finer and sharper or 

 lower and coarser note is required." Of course experience and 

 practice are required to become skilful in the use of this instrument. 



Anas obscura.—Qv!i^\n. Black Duck. Dusky Duck. Black Mallard. 



The Black Duck is about the size of the Mallard, and resembles 

 the female of that species excepting that the general tone of the 

 coloration is much darker, being brownish black in some places, 

 and lighter below. Bill yellowish green, feet orange red, the webs 

 dusky, length twentyrfour and a half inches, weight about three 

 pounds. The female resembles the male, but the colors are less 

 clear, and the bird is srnaller. 



The Dusky Duck seems to take the place in the East occupied 

 by the Mallard in the Western States and Territories, although a 

 few are always found associated with the Mallards, just as a few 

 Mallards are frequently met with in the east, in resorts common to 

 the Black Duck. The latter is, however, rare west of the Missis- 

 sippi, but has been noticed at one point west of the Rocky Moun- 



