DUSKY DUCK. 105 



Anas obscura. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 541. Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 



871. 

 Dusky Duck. Lath. Gen. Syn. 6. 545. Wils. Amer. Orn. t>. viii. 



p. I4\.pl. 



LENGTH two feet : beak long, narrow, dusky, and 

 tinged with blue : the crown of the head dusky : the 

 neck pale brown, streaked down wards with dusky 

 lines : the back and wing-coverts deep brown : the pri- 

 maries dusky: speculum of a fine blue, bounded with a 

 black bar : the breast and belly deep brown, the fea- 

 thers edged with dirty yellow : the tail wedge-shaped, 

 dusky, with white edges : the legs dusky or yellowish. 

 The female has more brown on her plumage ; in other 

 respects she resembles the male. 



This species inhabits North America, occurring in 

 plenty from Florida to New England : its chief re- 

 sidence is on the coast, though it makes considerable 

 excursions up the larger rivers : they are partially mi- 

 gratory : numbers of them remain on the coast of 

 New Jersey during the summer, and breed in seques- 

 tered places in the marshes, or on the sea islands of 

 the beach : they lay eight or ten eggs, very similar 

 to those of the Tame Duck. Their principal food 

 consists of minute shells : they roost at night in the 

 shallow ponds, in the middle of the salt marshes. 

 They are very shy during the day : in calm weather 

 they fly high, beyond gunshot ; but when the wind 

 blows fresh, their flight is low, and they are easily 

 shot, provided the gunner keeps himself concealed. 

 Their voice is similar to that of the Wild Duck, and 

 their flesh is much esteemed, although greatly inferior 

 to that of the domestic kind. 



