TOWNSEND AND ALLEN: LABRADOR BIRDS. 325 



Stearns says it is "rather rare but occasional." Macoun says that 

 a pair was seen by Spreadborough in the interior of Labrador on 

 July 16, 1896. 



Anas boschas Linn. 



Mallard. 



Rare transient visitor. 



According to Cooke the Mallard breeds west of Hudson Bay and 

 also in Greenland. In Labrador it is found only as a migrant. Pack- 

 ard mentions specimens from Davis Inlet and from the mouth of the 

 Koksoak River and says it is "rare at Fort Chimo. Common on 

 eastern and more plentiful on southeast coast." Coues saw a pair 

 offered for sale by one of the natives. 



Anas obscura Gmel. 

 Black Duck. 



Common summer resident. 



It is of course impossible to separate most of the records of obscura 

 from those of rubripes, a subspecies established by Brewster in 1902. 

 Examples of both forms have been obtained from Labrador. Here 

 a general account of the species in Labrador will be given without 

 attempting to subdivide it. 



The Black Duck breeds throughout Labrador, more commonly 

 away from the coast, on the shores of inland ponds. Cartwright 

 shot one in Sandwich Bay, containing a hard egg on May 28, 1778. 

 Mr. Schmitt at Nain told us they bred in that vicinity from the end 

 of June to mid-July. 



Audubon found them incubating in Labrador June 17, 1833, and 

 with young on July 5th. Brewster said they bred along the coast 

 near Mingan. Frazar found a few breeding on the islands near Cape 

 Whittle. Palmer found them abundant at Mingan. Coues says it 

 "breeds very plentifully" but is more common away from the coast. 

 Half-grown young were seen with parents on August 1st. Low found 

 them not common throughout the interior. They were seen May 1st 

 on, the upper Hamilton River and eggs found on May 23d. Spread- 

 borough found them breeding in northern Labrador on July 7, 1896, 

 but not commonly. Packard says it is "not common in Hudson 

 Strait. Doubtless breeds there." Wallace in the "Lure of the 

 Labrador Wild" speaks of seeing Black Ducks as late as October 



