24 NORTH AMERICAN DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



crosses into central Canada early in April, and the average date of 

 arrival at Aweme, Manitoba (ten years), is April 3 (earliest March 24, 

 1905); Qu' Appelle, Saskatchewan (six years), April 10 (earliest, March 

 26, 1905). The earliest-migrants were seen at Fort Resolution May 7, 

 1860; near Fort Providence, April 27, 1904; Fort Simpson, May 3, 

 1904; Kowak River, Alaska, May 17, 1899. 



The last one seen in 1892 at Shellmound, Miss., was on April 5; 

 in northern Texas one was seen as late as May 6, 1889. In central 

 Missouri, where a few remain to breed, the average date when the 

 last migrants are seen is March 28. 



Fall migration. — In the fall this species returns with the general 

 mass of ducks, and the average date of its arrival at Alexandria, 

 Va., is September 21 (earliest, August 28, 1896); it becomes common 

 October 27; at Chicago, 111., September 27; Grinnell, Iowa, Septern- 

 ber 17; and in northern Texas October 11. The first one was noted 

 at San Angelo, Tex., August 10, 1883, and at Austin, Tex., Septem- 

 ber 1, 1893. 



The mallard is one of the moderately hardy ducks, and remains in 

 the north until the lakes begin to freeze. Average dates when the 

 last were seen are: Montreal, Canada, October 26 (latest, November 13, 

 1897); Scotch Lake, New Brunswick, November 7; Ottawa, Ontario 

 (nine years), November 5 (latest, November 14, 1904); Aweme, Mani- 

 toba (eight years), November 12 (latest, November 23, 1902); Chicago, 

 111., November 13; English Lake, Ind., December 9; southern Minne- 

 sota (ten years), November 22 (latest, December 11, 1890); central 

 Iowa (12 years), November 15 (latest, November 27, 1903); central 

 Nebraska, November 18 (latest, November 26, 1899). 



Anas obscura Gmel. Black Duck. 



Breeding range. — The group of 'black' or 'dusky' ducks comprises 

 several species which closely resemble each other and which have been 

 distinguished only in recent years. The black duck is the common 

 breeding duck of New England and northern New York, south of 

 which it breeds not rarely on Long Island and locally in Pennsylvania 

 (Bradford County), New Jersey (Long Beach), Delaware, and Mary- 

 land (Ocean City, Barrow Springs). To the westward the breeding 

 range extends south to Ohio (formerly), Indiana (Lake County), Illi- 

 nois, Iowa (Spirit Lake), and Minnesota (Kandiyohi County). It 

 breeds rarely and locally over much of Wisconsin, but breeds more 

 commonly in Michigan and southern Ontario. It is a very common 

 summer resident of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the 

 islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The most northern points at 

 which it breeds are in southern Labrador and Newfoundland. Some- 

 where in Labrador and in northern Ontario this form meets the more 

 northern form, the red-legged duck {Anas obscura rubripes), but the 



