80 The fVater-fowl Family 



Habitat— Breeds from the coast of North Carolina (formerly ?)and 

 from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana (?), Illinois, and Iowa, north 

 to Sable Island, Newfoundland, southern Labrador, Quebec, 

 Ontario, and eastern Manitoba. Winters from the coast of 

 Massachusetts, western New York (?), Indiana (?), and Ken- 

 tucky, south to Florida, the West Indies, Alabama, and Louisiana. 

 Recorded from Bermuda and Texas (?), and very doubtfully 

 from Utah. Rare west of the Alleghanies. 



This bird is the standard game duck of the 

 northeastern United States and Canada, occur- 

 ring on all the bodies of water inland and along 

 the coast. Exposed on all sides to gunning of 

 every description, the black duck thrives, and 

 holds its own with a reputation for cunning and 

 wisdom unsurpassed. It breeds regularly farther 

 south than has been generally supposed. 



Northern New England, New Brunswick, Nova 

 Scotia, and eastern Canada north of the St. 

 Lawrence are favorite breeding-grounds. It 

 nests sparingly in Massachusetts, Connecticut, 

 and Long Island. For several years the writer 

 noticed in early August a brood of young black 

 duck on the Quinnipiac River, a short distance 

 from New Haven. The nest is composed of 

 coarse grass, and is generally situated in a swamp 

 or marsh close to the water. From eight to 

 twelve eggs are laid. The young are hatched in 

 late June, and carefully guarded and concealed by 

 the old bird, who keeps them close to the marsh, 

 where long grass and weeds afford a ready protec- 



