BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 77 



Range. — Eastern North America. Breeds from central Keewatin and 

 northern Ungava south to northern Wisconsin, northern Indiana and 

 southern Maryland; winters from Nova Scotia south to southern Loui- 

 siana and Colorado; west in migration to Nebraska and central Kansas; 

 casual in Bermuda; accidental in Jamaica. 



History. 

 The Black Duck, owing to its ability to take care of itself, 

 is the only fresh-water Duck which still remains common 

 locally throughout the New England States. Although it has 

 decreased greatly in numbers since early times, it has avoided 

 the gunner by feeding mainly at night, and going out on the 

 salt water or to some large lake during the day, where it is 

 practically unapproachable. Now and then young or inex- 

 perienced birds lack some of the caution of the majority, but 

 these are quickly killed, and only the suspicious ones survive 

 to procreate their kind. The following abridged extracts 

 from authors exhibit the former abundance of the species 

 and its decrease: The most numerous of all its tribes that 

 frequent the salt marshes; on the most distant report of a 

 musket they rise from every quarter of the marsh in prodi- 

 gious numbers; there are at least ten Black Ducks to one 

 Goose or Brant, and probably many more (Wilson, 1811). 

 Abundant winter resident; few breed (Maynard, 1870). Most 

 abundant of all our fresh- water Ducks (Samuels, 1870). 

 Abundant resident (Turnbull, 1869). Abundant winter resi- 

 dent; rare summer, formerly regular resident whole year (J. A. 

 Allen, 1879). Formerly abundant, but now rare (H. L. Clark, 

 1887, Amherst, Mass.). Very common transient visitor, not 

 uncommon summer resident (Brewster, Cambridge region, 

 1906). Mr. James Henry Rice, Jr., of Summerville, S. C, 

 says that Black Ducks and Mallards are decreasing fast, 

 although both mass around Georgetown. Market hunting 

 is wiping them out. He has seen five thousand Mallards 

 and Black Ducks brought into the Georgetown market in one 

 day, all killed by the negroes. Forty observers in 1908 report 

 an increase in Massachusetts, and one hundred and twenty- 

 six report a decrease. Black Ducks breeding in the State are 



