308 APPENDIX. 



BLACK DUCK. 



Dusky Duck. 

 Anas Obscura, Wils. 



Specific Character. General plumage dusky; 

 speculum green, reflecting purple, bordered with 

 black ; secondaries tipped with white. Adult with 

 the forehead, crown, occiput, and middle space on 

 the hind neck brownish-black, the feathers slightly 

 margined with greyish-brown ; cheeks, loral space, 

 and sides of the neck dusky grey, streaked with 

 black ; throat reddish-brown ; general plumage dusky, 

 lighter beneath ; under wing-coverts white ; specu- 

 lum brilliant green ; bill yellowish ; feet reddish- 

 orange. Female rather smaller, plumage lighter, 

 speculum less brilliant. Length of male about two 

 feet ; wing eleven inches. 



These ducks are killed equally in the fresh and 

 salt waters ; they come to the decoys warily. 



GADWALL. 



Welsh Drake, Grerman Duck. 

 Anas Strepera, Wils. 



Specific Character. Speculum white ; secondary 

 coverts black ; upper wing-coverts chestnut red ; 

 general plumage dusky grey, waved with white ; 

 abdomen white. Adult with the bill bluish-black ; 

 head and upper part of the neck grey, streaked with 

 dusky darkest on the upper part of the head, as 

 well as the middle space on the hind neck ; lower 



