65 
neetown, Ill., October 3; Richmond, Kans., October 4; and from Bon- 
ham, Tex., October 16. At the last-named place Ducks became common 
November 4. 
133. Anas obscura Gmel. [602.] Black Duck. 
Though principally a bird of the Eastern States the Black Duck is 
not rare in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley. In winter it 
occurs in the Gulf States. It is rarein western Manitoba. According 
to the reports of observers, it is resident in Louisiana and Texas ;* and 
it breeds in Iowa and Illinois, but not in Kansas or Nebraska. In 1884 
it arrived at Frazee City, Minn., April 1. In the fall of 1884 the first 
migrant appeared at San Angelo, Tex., August3. In 1883 the first was 
seen there August 8. 
In the spring of 1885 it arrived at Fayette, Mo., April 1, and a female 
at Gainesville, Tex., April 24. 
In the fall of 1885 the first came to Fernwood, Ill., September 12; it 
was next seen there October 3, and last, November 7, on which date it 
was seen also at Shawneetown, Ill. 
134. Anas fulvigula Ridgw. [603.] Florida Duck. 
This Duck, originally described from Florida, has been found in Kan- 
sas, and doubtless occurs regularly in Louisiana and eastern Texas, if 
not throughout the intermediate region. 
Col. N.S. Goss, in his Revised Catalogue of the Birds of Kansas (1886), 
says of it: ‘‘Migratory; rare. Arrives about the middle of March. I 
captured a female at Neosho Falls, March 11, 1876, and have since shot 
one, and observed two others in the State” (p. 6). 
135. Anas strepera Linn. [604.] Gadwall. 
The Gadwall is widely distributed, ranging over most of the northern 
hemisphere. It winters abundantly in the Gulf States, and sometimes 
remains in Illinois in mild winters; itis also known to winter near a warm 
spring in Wyoming. It breeds locally throughout most of its range. 
Col. N. S. Goss considers it a rare breeder in Kansas. At Moss Point, 
Miss., it comes in November and leaves in February. In 1884 it ar- 
rived at Ellis, Kans., March 14, Manhattan, Kans., March 19, and Saint 
Louis March 21, furnishing a curious exception to the usual rule that 
western birds arrive later than eastern. It arrived at Heron Lake, 
Minn., March 23, and remained to breed. In the fall of 1884 the first 
migrant was seen at Des Moines, lowa, October 28, and the last No- 
vember 10. 
In the spring of 1885 it was reported from Emporia, Kans., and Heron 
Lake, Minn., March 29; from Des Moines and Laporte City, Iowa, April 
1 and 3, and from Shell River, Manitoba, May 12. In the fall of 1885 
the last was seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 13. 
* Probably those which breed in Louisiana and Texas really belong to the next 
species, A. fulvigula. 
7365~—Bull. 2——5 
