BLACK DUCK. 441 



brown, tlie greater being tipped with black, preceded by a white bnnd. Tail, brown, witli tbe feathers spotted arid edged 

 with white. Under surface, not dtrcrihed, excepting the under wing coverts which are black with greenish reflections, 

 rrciiiny-wliite, finely banded everywhere, excepting on under wing coverts and axillaries, but more prominently on sides, 

 with brown. Tips of feathers of flanks, white. Iris, brown; feet, reddish-orange, bill, greenish-brown. 



Ailn/tfima!" General color, dark-brown, with feathers edged mid streaked with yellowish-rufous which predominates 

 below mid which it. imged on brenst, sides, flanks, and under tail coverts with chestnut. Otherwise similar to the adult 

 male. Youny. Similar to the adult female but paler. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The male may be known by the green head, and the female by the predominating white on tail. Distributed, in sum- 

 mer, throughout the West and North ; wintering in the South. Not very common in New England during migrations. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 23'50; stretch, 55-50; wing, ll'OO; tail, 3'80; bill, 

 2-85; tarsus, T75. Longest specimen, 25'00; greatest extent of wing, 28-75; longest wing, ll'SO; tail, 4'00; bill, 2'30; tar- 

 sus, 1 90. Shortest specimen, 22-00; smallest extent of wing, 22'25; shortest, wing, 10'SO; tail, 3'60; bill, 2" 15; tarsus, 1'CO. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of weeds, grass, etc. Eyyt, six to ten in number, elliptical 

 in form, greenish-brown in color. Dimensions from T40x2'25 to I'70x2'35. 



HABITS. 



Although I have occasionally taken specimens of the Mallard Duck in New England , 

 they are far from being common here, I have also found them, in winter, in Florida, but 

 never very abundant, nor do I think that any breed in the State, the great strong-hold of 

 the species, appearing to be in the West. Those which I observed in Florida, were quite 

 tame, insomuch so that I have walked within a few feet of them, as they sat in the small 

 pools on the marshes, and shot them, as they rose, with dust shot. Although usually a riv- 

 er Duck, those that I have seen, both North and South, were in pools on salt marshes, or 

 in crocks in which the tide rose and fell. In general habits, the Mallards closely resemble 

 (lie following species but arc, however, more often domesticated, and those which have 

 bci-n bird in this condition for many years, retain the plumage of the original birds so well, 

 that it is often impossible to detect any difference, and they readily become feral, associa- 

 ting with wild Ducks. 



ANAS OBSCURA. 



Black Duck. 

 Anas obscura GM., Syst Nat. I; 1788, 541. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH Size, large. Form, robust. COLOR. Adult male. Dark-brown throughout streaked on head, neck, and ab- 

 domen with pale reddish-yellow; and feathers of remainder of body, especially below, edged with yellowish. Under wing 

 coverts, axillaries, and tips of secondaries, white. Speculum, green with violet reflections, surrounded by black. Feet, 

 greenish-yellow. Iris, brown. Bill, greenish-brown. Adult female and Youny. Similar, but paler. Nestlinys. Above, 

 including stripe behind eye, yellowish-brown, with several spots of buffy-yellow. Beneath, pale buffy-yellow. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the universally dark colors. Florida specimens are not only smaller in size but are lighter in color 

 than Northern birds, the nurnl>er of tail feathers is less, and there are longitudinal streaks above of yellowish in males. 

 Distributed, in summer, throughout Eastern North America, from Labrador to Texas; winters from Massachusetts, south. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Ix-ngth, 22-50; stretch, 35-80: wing, 10'50; tail, 3-38; bill, 

 1-00; tarsus, 1'85. Lonu"-t speeimen.SJ-OO; greatest extent of wing, 37'50; longest wing, ll'OO: tail. 3-.W; bill, 2'IO; tarsus] 

 2-15. Shortest speeinien, ._>!( KI ; smallest extent of wing, 34'00; shortest wing, 1<VOO; tail, 3-12; bill, T75; tarsus, TOO. 



x OF NK.STS AND i:<;<;.s. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy plaec-;, eomposeil of grass, wei ds, etc. K/ys, six to ten in number, ellipti- 

 cal in furiu, and jrrecnish-brown in color. Dimensions from l'-KI.\^-25 to I'75x2'35. 



50 



