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DUSKY DUCK. 
ANAS OBSCURA, GMEL. 
PLATE CCCII. Mate anp Femate. 
Tus species, which is known in all parts of the United States by 
the name of ‘“‘ Black Duck,” extends its migrations from the Straits of 
Belle Isle, on the coast of Labrador, to the province of Texas. Strange 
as the fact may appear, it breeds in both these countries, as well as in 
many of the intermediate districts. On the 10th of May 1833, I found 
it breeding along the marshy edges of inland pools, near the Bay of 
Fundy, and, on Whitehead Island in the same bay, saw several young 
birds of the same species, which, although apparently not more than a 
week old, were extremely active both on land and in the water. On 
the 30th of April 1837, my son discovered a nest on Galveston Island, 
in Texas. It was formed of grass and feathers, the eggs eight in num- 
ber, lying on the former, surrounded with the down and some feathers 
of the bird, to the height of about three inches. The internal diame- 
ter of the nest was about six inches, and its walls were nearly three 
in thickness. The female was sitting, but flew off in silence as he ap- 
proached. ‘The situation selected was a clump of tall slender grass, on 
a rather sandy ridge, more than a hundred yards from the nearest wa- 
ter, but surrounded by partially dried salt-marshes. On the same 
island, in the course of several successive days, we saw many of these 
ducks, which, by their actions, shewed that they also had nests. I 
may here state my belief, that the Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Green- 
winged Teal, Mallard, American Widgeon, and Spoon-billed Duck, all 
breed in that country, as I observed them there late in May, when they 
were evidently paired. How far this fact may harmonize with the 
theories of writers respecting the migration of birds in general, is more 
than I can at present stop to consider. I have found the Black Duck 
breeding on lakes near the Mississippi, as far up as its confluence with 
the Ohio, as well as in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and every one 
acquainted with its habits will tell you, that it rears its young in all 
the Eastern States intervening between that last mentioned and the St 
