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. 



