BLACK DUCK 
71 
though less commonly in the western parts (Mcllwraith, 1894). Raine (1892) found it nesting at 
Peterboro, and Young {Jide J. and J. M. Macoun, 1909) at Brockville. C. W. G. Eifrig (1910) regards 
it as a common breeder at Ottawa, and it breeds very commonly on the famous Long Point Marshes 
on the north shore of Lake Erie. A few breed in western Ontario (Saunders, J. and J. M. Macoun, 
1909). 
Still farther west, however, the species becomes rare. On Hudson Bay it has been taken at York 
Factory by Blakiston {fide Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884), and even at Fort Churchill two 
specimens were recorded by Preble (1902). In that region it had already received a Central 
local name to distinguish it from the Mallard, and Mr. Preble tells me that he believes Canada 
there is a considerable breeding area along the west shore of Hudson Bay. The Post Manager of 
Albany Post WTites that it breeds along the west shore of James Bay in the vicinity of his post, and 
still farther north I have evidence from the Manager of York Factory who was told by the Indians 
that Black Ducks summer and rear young both north and east along the coast from that station. 
It may breed in limited numbers in the region between York Factory and Lake Winnipeg. In Mani- 
toba, however, it is a rare breeder (J. and J. M. Macoim, 1909) and probably does not occur much 
west of Red River. According to E. E. Thompson (1891) it nests rarely about Lake Winnipeg, Long 
Lake and in the Red River valley, but is rare in western Manitoba. Taverner (1919a) has recently 
recorded an instance of its breeding at Shoal Lake, near the south end of Lake Manitoba, while 
Cooke (1906) gives as exceptional records. Lake Manitoba, Long Lake, Delta, and St. Marks in the 
same region. Job (1913) who collected many ducks’ eggs at the south end of Lake Manitoba, saw 
but one Black Duck in the breeding season, and his guide told him that in the past twenty-five years 
he had shot only six. Seton (1908) gives three records for Shoal Lake and one for Lake Manitoba, 
and says it abounds on the Athabasca River! I do not know what the last statement is based on; 
neither am I able to explain MacFarlane’s (1908) statement that hundreds are seen at Cumberland 
House and Fort Chipewyan, and that the species is not uncommon on the Anderson River! There 
is one summer record for Fort Anderson but I have never found the specimen. Preble (1908) was told 
that it occurred occasionally at Fort Simpson, on the upper MacKenzie River! 
Recently a single specimen was taken as far northwest as Davidson, Saskatchewan (Report of 
Chief Game Guardian, Provinee of Saskatchewan, 1918, p. 11). The Faetor of the Hudson’s Bay 
Post at Nipigon told me that he had seen many Blaek Ducks in July at Red Lake on the English 
River north and west of Lonely Lake, and one hundred miles north of the Canadian Pacifie Railroad. 
It is, however, worth noting that most of these extreme northern and western records may be summer 
transients, and not breeding birds. We know that ducks, and probably many other migrants, make 
northern excmsions well beyond their breeding ranges in mid- or late summer. In this eonnection, 
a letter from Mr. Jabez Williams, a Faetor for forty-four years in the Hudson’s Bay Company and 
now residing at Fort Hope, on the Albany River, is significant. He writes that in his long experienee 
in all the eountry north of Lake Superior he has never seen or heard of a flock of young Black Ducks, 
although adults are common in such places as Lac Seul, Lake St. Joseph and Ebamet Lake. I have 
seen plenty in the Nipigon region myself, but it seems to me still unproved that any great breeding 
ground exists west of James Bay. 
Winter Range 
In the cold season the Black Duck is practically confined to the United States. Schmitt (1904) 
states that a few are found in winter on Anticosti Island, and according to Chamberlain (1887) a 
few winter in the Bay of Fundy. In some winters Black Duck are not uneommon in Eastern 
Nova Scotia (Tufts, 1918). In the St. Lawrence valley a few pass the eold season at Canada 
Quebee (Dionne, 1906) and individuals are seen as late as December at Montreal (Wintle, 1896). 
In a general way I think it may be said that the speeies winters in some distriets north to 45° north 
latitude. 
