DUSKY DUCK. 629 
approach of spring. During their residence here in winter, they 
frequent the marshes, and the various creeks and inlets with which 
those extensive flats are intersected. Their principal food consists 
of those minute snail shells so abundant in the marshes. They occa- 
sionally visit the sandy beach in search of smal] bivalves, and, on these 
occasions, sometimes cover whole acres with their numbers. They 
roost at night in the shallow ponds, in the middle of the salt marsh, 
particularly on islands, where many are caught by the foxes. They 
are extremely shy during the day; and, on the most distant report of 
a musket, rise from every quarter of the marsh in prodigious numbers, 
dispersing in every direction. In calm weather they fly high, beyond 
the reach of shot; but when the wind blows hard, and the gunner 
conceals ‘himself among the salt grass, in a place over which they 
usually fly, they are shot down in great numbers; their flight being 
then low. Geese, Brant, and Black Duck, are the common game of 
all our gunners along this part of the coast during winter; but there 
are at least ten Black Ducks for one Goose or Brant, and probably 
many more. Their voice resembles that of the Duck and Mallard; 
but their flesh is greatly inferior, owing to the nature of their food. 
They are, however, large, heavy-bodied Ducks, and generally 
esteemed. 
I cannot discover that this species is found in any of the remote 
northern parts of our continent; and this is probably the cause why 
it is altogether unknown in Europe. It is abundant from Florida to 
New England; but is not enumerated among the birds of Hudson’s 
Bay, or Greenland. Its chief residence is on the sea-coast, though 
it also makes. extensive excursions up the tide waters of our rivers. 
Like the Mallard, they rarely dive for food, but swim and fly with 
great velocity. 
The Dusky or Black Duck is two feet in length, and three feet two 
-inches in extent; the bill is of a dark greenish ash, formed very much 
like the Mallard, and nearly of the same length; irides, dark; upper 
part of the head, deep dusky brown, intermixed on the fore part with 
some small streaks of drab; rest of the head and greater part of the 
neck, pale yellow ochre, thickly marked with small streaks of blackish 
brown; lower part of the neck, and whole lower parts, deep dusky, 
each feather edged with brownish white, and with fine seams of rusty 
white ; upper parts the same, but rather deeper; the outer vanes of 
nine of the secondaries, bright violet blue, forming the beauty spot, 
which is bounded on all sides by black; wings and tail, sooty brown; 
tail-feathers, sharp-pointed; legs and feet, dusky yellow; lining of 
the wings, pure white. : 
The female has more brown on her plumage; but in other respects 
differs little from the male, both having the beauty spot on the wing. 
ing the Arctic circle, migrating during winter to more temperate regions, 
and very rare and accidental in the United States. : 
9. B. Hutchinsii, (Anser_Hutchinsii, Richard. — Hutchin’s Bernacle, North. 
Zool. ii. P: 470.) — Described by Dr. Richardson as a variety of the 
Brant, in the Appendix ta Captain Parry’s second volume, and distinguished 
from it ae the last Arctic expedition. — Ep. \ 
