216 KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
ber of specimens near Cape Canaveral. The eggs are greenish white and 
usually from seven to ten in number. 
The Mallard is known to cross with various species, some sixty or seventy 
hybrids having been recorded; the most common crosses being with the 
Pintail, Black Duck, and Widgeon. The female may always be distin- 
guished from the Black Duck by the white border of the speculum. 
The male says, ‘‘ Drake, drake, drake, drake,” several times in a husky 
voice and also ‘* Shwipe,” low and husky like a Black Duck. The female 
‘¢quacks.” Drakes rarely ‘‘ quack”; in most species of ducks it is usually 
the female. 
ANAS OBSCURA Gumel. 
Black Duck. Dusky Duck. 
Head and neck pale brown, finely dotted 
and streaked with dark brown; top of the 
head darker than the cheeks; general plu- 
mage dark brown; feathers edged with pale 
buff; speculum purple edged with black ; 
bill yellowish green with dark nail, no black 
at the base; feet orange red with dusky 
webs; the color of the feet varies. 
Length, 21; Wing, 10.75; Bill, 2.10; Tar- 
sus, 1.75. 
This species may always be easily 
distinguished from the female of 
the Mallard by the absence of the 
white stripe on the speculum. It is 
pretty well distributed over North 
America and breeds from New 
England northward. 
The male says: ‘* Drake, drake, 
drake, drake,” and also ‘* Shwipe,” 
in a husky voice: the female ‘‘ quacks.” 
It ranges in winter to Cuba and the Antilles and is common in Florida, 
where it may easily be distinguished from the local species by the streaked 
cheeks and throat. Itis also darker in color than the Florida Black Duck. 
The eggs are nine to twelve and are pale greenish white. 
