306 > lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



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

 " dusldn(f is an agreeable pastime. Black Ducks are very wary 

 and sagacious, and it is necessary to hold the most ])rofound 

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

 at the slightest noise. 



DESCIIIPTIOX. 



"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." 



