THE BLACK DUCK 



[Anas obsciira.) 



The Black Duck is chiefly an eastern 

 species though its range extends west- 

 ward to the Mississippi Valley, and it is 

 not rare in the northern portion of this 

 Valley according to some observers. Its 

 breeding range extends from the north- 

 ern United States northward to the lati- 

 tude of Labrador. While it is called 

 the Black Duck a more proper name is 

 Dusky Duck, for this name more truth- 

 fully represents its color. Its habits are 

 quite similar tp those of the mallard and 

 for this reason it is quite frequently 

 called the- Black or Dusky Mallard, es- 

 pecially by sportsmen. This species is 

 said to be the most abundant of all the 

 fresh water ducks in the New England 

 States. However, the Black Ducks do 

 not seem to associate with each other in 

 very large flocks. This is especially true 

 in the western portion of their range 

 where they are more often seen in pairs 

 or in very small companies. 



In his "Birds of New England," Mr. 

 Edward A. Samuels gives an interest- 

 ing account of their habits after the 

 breeding season. He says: "Early in 

 September, the Dusky Duck gathers in 

 flocks of fifteen or twenty. It is now so 

 difficult of approach that the experienced 

 gunner seldom attempts to secure it by 

 stalking it. The sportsman, knowing the 

 localities most frequented by these flocks 

 (generally meadows in which streams of 

 water or small ponds are abundant) 

 builds a bower near the water of the 

 limbs of pines and other dense foliaged 

 trees, in which he secrets himself at day- 

 break, armed and provided with three or 

 four tame ducks. One of these ducks he 

 anchors or moors out in the water, half 

 a gunshot from the bower. The duck, 

 soon becoming lonesonje, begins to call, 

 when, if there are any wild ducks in the 

 neighborhood, they answer, and soon fly 

 to meet the caller." The sportsman 

 holds one of the other tame ducks in his 

 hands and as soon as the wild ducks have 



approached quite near, he throws it to- 

 wards the duck moored in the water, 

 which cries all the more when she sees 

 the one thrown flying towards her. The 

 Dusky Ducks, after flying back and forth 

 for a time, alight near her. "As soon as 

 they alight, they gather together in a 

 flock away from the decoy ; and it is 

 then that the sportsman pours in his first 

 shot." It is only early in the morning or 

 late in the afternoon that these ducks can 

 be shot in this manner. It may be con- 

 sidered that in the east, where the mal- 

 lard is not common, it is replaced by the 

 Black Duck which frequents the inland 

 streams, the lakes and ponds as well as 

 the salt-creeks of the ocean coast. Dur- 

 ing the warmer seasons, and when pos- 

 sible in the winter, these Ducks feed upon 

 vegetable materials such as the roots, 

 foliage and seeds of water and marsh 

 plants. It is also said that they will feed 

 upon the farmer's corn. At other times 

 they are known to eat minute mollusks 

 and Crustacea. This is especially true in 

 the autumn and winter, when they fre- 

 quent the salt marshes. When they feed 

 upon the vegetable diet their flesh js ex- 

 ceedingly delicate and fully as delicious 

 as that of any other duck. They are 

 very shy and retiring during the day, 

 "being at that time very seldom seen, ex- 

 cept when surprised in their retreats or 

 alarmed by the report of the gun, when 

 they often arise from the marsh and dis- 

 perse in every direction." They are only 

 partially migratory, for usually they only 

 pass far enough southward to find open 

 water, or they may remain upon the sea 

 coast if the weather is not too severe. 



The nests of the Black Ducks are usu- 

 ally placed on the ground in grass or 

 rushes in the vicinity of water courses, 

 ponds or lakes. The nests are also built 

 at times in meadows and swamps. They 

 are rather large structures, built of grass 

 and flexible plants and they are lined with 

 feathers from the breast of the sitting 



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