RIVER DUCKS 



(133) Anas rubripes Brewster 



(L;it., red-looted). 



BLACK DUCK; DUSKY MAL- 

 LARD. Ad. — As shown. Bill 

 greenish, with a black tip or nail. 

 Feet orange-red, with dusky webs. 

 o" usually darker than the 9 and 

 sometimes with a narrow white bor- 

 der on the speculum. Linings of 

 wings white. Size same as that of 

 the Mallard. Nesl — Of grass, lined 

 with feathers from the breast of the 

 female; concealed among rushes or 

 weeds near the water; the six to 

 ten buff-colored eggs are laid in May 

 or June; 2.30 x 1.70. Both this spe- 

 cies and Mallards utter loud quacks. 



Range — Eastern N. A. Breeds 

 from Md. and Wis. north to Ungava 

 and Keewatin. Winters from Nova 

 Scotia south to the Gulf. 



in similar plumage to that of the females ; the second, which 

 takes place in July or August, restores the handsome plu- 

 mage, to remain until the following year. 



In fall, local Mallards join or are joined by flocks coming 

 from more northern localities. They usually rest, perhaps, 

 floating at sea during dayhght and, at dusk, fly to favorite 

 marshes to feed; it is upon these flights from the resting 

 places to the feeding grounds that gunners do their most 

 effective execution. When disturbed during daytime or 

 while feeding at dusk Mallards are quite noisy, the females 

 doing the loudest quacking. 



BLACK DUCKS, or Dusky Mallards, are very closely 

 related to Mallards and have similar habits. Their range 

 is quite restricted, being confined to eastern North America. 



It is a beautiful sight to watch a female Black Duck and 

 her brood. She guards them most zealously, turning her 

 head this way and that, ever on the lookout for danger, 

 be it from beast, bird or fish. Should an enemy approach, 

 she will attempt to escape by swimming away with her brood. 



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