76 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



BLACK DUCK (Anas riihripes). 



Common or local names: Dusky Duck; Summer Black Duck; Spring Black Duck; 



Black Mallard. 



Length. — 22 to 25 inches. 



Adult. — Top of head blackish; sides of head, neck and throat light grayish 

 buff, finely streaked with dusky (old males have the throat unspotted) ; 

 a dusky line through eye; rest of plumage dusky brown (apparently 

 blackish, except in strong light or close at hand) ; speculum iridescent 

 purple or greenish, edged with velvety black but no white; under sides 

 of wings light silvery; bill broad and fairly long, yellowish green or 

 olive; iris brown; legs and feet of male orange red, with dusky webs; 

 females and young have legs and feet darker; old drakes have yellower 

 bills, redder legs and feet, and more distinctly spotted throats. 



Field Marks. — Large size, dusky color and silvery white lining under the 

 wings, which shows in flight. May be distinguished from the female 

 or young of the Mallard by the absence of white wing-bars. 



Notes. — A quack resembling that of the Mallard (Reed). This is the call 

 of the female; the male has a more reedy cry. 



Nest. — On the ground in a wet meadow, on the border of lake or stream, in 

 the rushes, or sometimes under a bush on a hillside. 



Eggs. — Six to about twelve, pale yellowish drab or buff, more or less 

 dingy, about 2.40 by 1.75. 



Season. — Resident the entire year, mainly coastwise in winter. Many 

 now breed; more winter, and still more migrate through New England 

 in fall and spring. 



