DUSKY DUCK. 



DLACK Duck, Black and Dusky Mallard, Black Eng- 

 lish Duck, and Canard Noir in Louisiana, are the 

 names by which this bird is variously known. Its range 

 is mainly throughout eastern North America, north of 

 Florida, extending westward to Utah and Texas, and 

 north to Hudson Bay. In Florida it is replaced by a 

 smaller subspecies of similar appearance. In its habits 

 this duck very closely' resembles the Mallard, and it has 

 the same loud quacking note. It breeds in various parts 

 of the United States from Maine to Texas, as well as in 

 Labrador, where in summer it is very abundant. The 

 nest, placed upon the ground in the vicinity of water, is 

 a compact structure of weeds and grass, lined with down 

 and feathers, and the eggs are grayish white with a green 

 tinge. Eight to ten is the usual complement. 



Of all our Water Fowl the Black Duck is one of the 

 most cunning and suspicious. It also possesses a keen 

 smell, and no matter how well one may be concealed in 

 a carefully constructed blind, if the wind blows toward 

 the advancing bird, it will detect the sportsman's pres- 

 ence and remove itself without delay from the dangerous 

 neighborhood. Many a time have I watched one or 

 more of these wide-awake birds coming straight to my 

 decoys, apparently only intent upon joining the flock of 

 their supposed brethren, and uttering as they came that 

 low, soft quack, so indicative of confidence and pleased 

 satisfaction, when suddenly, without any apparent rea- 

 son, the birds would rise in the air and swerve oS in an 



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