204 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



tains, having been observed by Dr. Yarrow, at Rush Laice, Utah. 

 See Zool. of Wheeler's Survey, vol. 5, p. 473. They are peculiar 

 with respect to their partial migrations, for they have been found 

 breeding in Texas and Labrador at the same time, and they are 

 exceedingly plentiful in New England in winter, where they like- 

 wise breed. 



The Black Duck is a very wary creature, exceedingly difficult 

 of approach, and stratagem is the only recourse, if we hope to be 

 successful. They are rarely found in great numbers, except when 

 congregated on salt water, five to ten being an average flock started 

 from pond and feeding ground. 



During very severe winters, when every sheet of water is bound 

 in with a thick covering of ice, the Black Duck are driven to warm 

 spring holes where the water never freezes, and hunters often make 

 large bags by concealing themselves near such places. The 

 approach of evening drives the ducks from the bay or sound. Where 

 they have been sitting during the day, and they seek these open inland 

 spots for food and shelter. Brush houses are also constructed of 

 sedge, cedar boughs, etc., at the mouths of fresh water rivers and 

 creeks, in places where the marsh land is low and intersected by 

 branches of the main stream. Here the ducks come to feed at night, 

 and a wholesale fusillade is opened upon them by those concealed. 

 The brush house is left standing, and the ducks soon avoid entirely 

 this locality, and feed elsewhere. This brush house building on 

 feeding grounds cannot be too severely condemned. 



Still another method is pass shooting ; that is, standing, on blowy 

 blustering days of the late fall, when the wind is the southwest, 

 in belts of woods, over which the birds fly when travelling in their 

 afternoon flights to the roosting and feeding grounds ; the ducks 

 often fly low and give good chances. Black duck feed at nio-ht, 

 and are off at daybreak. They afford delicious eating in the fall, and 

 are a great market bird. They are almost universally known in 

 the west by the name of Black .Mallard. The use of decoys in the 

 pursuit of the Dusky Duck is generally futile. Concealment is the 

 primary object. The hints and suggestions in our account of the 

 Mallard, w'U many of them apply equally well to this bird. This 

 'Is also true of all our shoal water ducks, for their habits are very 

 similar. 



