DUSKY DUCK, OR BLACK-DUCK. 323 



and of course can only be practised with much success on a moon- 

 light night. 



When the weather is not severe and the ducks are plenty, 

 "dusking" is an agreeable pastime. Black ducks are very wary 

 and sagacious; and it is necessary to hold the most profound 

 silence when dusking, as they change their course or tower high 

 at the slightest noise. 



DESCRIPTION. 



"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 the mallard, and nearly of the same length ; irides 

 dark; upper part of the head deep dusky-brown, intermixed on 

 the forepart 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, forming 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 

 respects differs little from the male, both having the beauty-spot 

 on the wing. 



