DUSKY DUCK. 311 



of all our gunners along this part of the coast during winter; 

 but there are at least ten Black Duck for one Goose or Brant, 

 and probably many more. Their voice resembles that of the Duck 

 and Mallard ; but their flesh is greatly inferior, owing to the 

 nature of their food. They are, however, large, heavy bodied 

 Ducks, and generally esteemed. 



I cannot discover that this species is found in any of the re- 

 mote northern parts of our continent; and this is probably the 

 cause why it is altogether unknown in Europe. It is abundant 

 from Florida to New England; but is not enumerated among 

 the birds of Hudson's Bay, or Greenland. Its chief residence 

 is on the seacoast, though it also makes extensive excursions 

 up the tide waters of our rivers. Like the Mallard they rarely 

 dive for food, but swim and fly with great velocity. 



The Dusky, or Black Duck, is two feet in length, and three 

 feet two inches in extent; the bill is of a dark greenish ash, 

 formed very much like that of the Mallard, and nearly of the 

 same length; irides dark; upper part of the head deep dusky 

 brown, intermixed on the fore part with some small streaks of 

 drab ; rest of the head and greater part of the neck pale yellow 

 ochre, thickly marked with small streaks of blackish brown; 

 lower part of the neck, and whole lower parts, deep dusky, 

 each feather edged with brownish white, and with fine seams 

 of rusty white; upper parts the same, but rather deeper; the 

 outer vanes of nine of the secondaries bright violet blue, form- 

 ing the beauty spot, which is bounded on all sides by black; 

 wings and tail sooty brown; tail feathers sharp pointed; legs 

 and feet dusky yellow; lining of the wings pure white. 



The female has more brown on her plumage; but in other re- 

 spects differs little from the male, both having the beauty spot 

 on the wing. 



Note. Of all our Ducks this is perhaps the most sagacious 

 and the most fearful of man. In the neighbourhood of Phila- 

 delphia they are found in great numbers, they are notwithstand- 

 ing hard to be obtained, in consequence of their extreme vigi- 



