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Now that the Wood Duck is growing scarce the Black Duck is the 

 commonest nesting Duck in the southern parts of Canada and the only 

 one that can be called a common breeder near the lower Great Lakes. 

 Originally almost every little lake and pond raised its brood of Black 

 Duck, but, owing to the drainage of the marshes and human interference 

 with nesting, it is now practically restricted to the larger marshes or more 

 inaccessible situations. 



It is still in dispute whether there are two forms of the Black Duck. 

 Late in the autumn a number of very large birds with red legs are taken 

 but it has not been conclusively determined whether they are subspecific- 

 ally distinct. 



Economic Status. Though the Black Duck often, especially in the 

 breeding season, haunts the edges of cultivated fields where it gleans what 

 food it can find, it does little or no harm. There is little crop to damage 

 at that season and, as at other times it confines its attention to aquatic 

 life, there is no harm that can be charged against the species. 



Genus — Chaulelasmus. Gadwall. 



135. Gadwall. grey duck, speckle-belly, fr. — le canard chipeau. Chaule- 

 lasmus streperus. L, 19 • 50. A finely speckled or vermiculated grey Duck, of same general 

 tone as the female Mallard, but with chestnut-red shoulders and a white speculum. 



Distinctions. White speculum is always diagnostic. Females are otherwise likely 

 to be mistaken for small female Mallards or Baldpates. 



Field Marks. White speculum and general greyish appearance. 



Nesting. On the ground, in grass or under bushes. 



Distribution. Nearly cosmopolitan. One of the rarest Ducks on the lower Great 

 Lakes, nearly absent from the east coast, commoner to the west where it breeds. 



Genus — Mareca. Widgeons. 



137. Baldpate. American widgeon, pr. — le canard d'amerique. Mareca 

 americana. L, 19. A medium-sized, greyish Duck. The male bas white shoulders and 

 cap, and a broad green stripe through the eye, a black speculum with green reflections, and 

 a soft wash of pink over breast and back. 



Distinctions. The male is distinctive; the female might easily be mistaken for a female 

 Mallard or Gadwall but for its black speculum and pure white underparts. 



Field Marks. The white crown and green eye-bar are characteristic of the male; 

 the white underparts and the abrupt ending of the brown breast against the underparts 

 distinguish the female in life. 



Nesting. On the ground, in grass or under bushes. 



Distribution. Ranges over nearly all Canada; rare on the Atlantic coast, more com- 

 mon to the west. 



Closely related to the Widgeon of Europe, which has occasionally 

 been taken on our coasts and which it closely resembles. 



Genus — Nettion. Teal. 



139. Green-winged Teal. fr. — la sarcelle a ailes vertes. Nettion carolinense 

 L, 14-50. The smallest of our Ducks. The male has a chestnut-coloured head; a bar 

 back from eye and speculum, iridescent green; finely vermiculated back, and spotted 

 breast; nearly white below. The female is a dull-brownish bird considerably lighter below 

 and has the characteristic green speculum of the species. 



Distinctions. Size will always separate this little Duck from all others except the 

 next species and the Bufflehead. The brilliant green speculum will separate it from 

 the latter and the entire absence of chalky blue on the shoulders from the former. 



