244 DUSKY DUCK. 



Adult Female. 



Bill black in the middle, dull orange at the extremities and along the 

 edges. Iris as in the male, as are the feet. The general colour of the upper 

 parts is pale yellowish-brown, streaked and spotted with dusky-brown. The 

 feathers of the head narrowly streaked, of the back with the margin and a 

 central streak yellowish-brown, the rest dark, of the scapulars similar, but 

 with the light streak on the outer web. The wings are nearly as in the 

 male, the speculum similar, but with less green. The lower parts dull ochre, 

 deeper on the lower neck, and spotted with brown. 



Length 22 inches. Weight from 2 lbs. to 2|. 



The Young acquire the full plumage in the course of the first winter. 



DUSKY DUCK. 



^/-Anas obscura, Gmel. 



PLATE CCCLXXXVI.— Male and Female. 



This species, which is known in all parts of the United States by the 

 name of "Black Duck,'" extends its migrations from the Straits of Belle 

 Isle, on the coast of Labrador, to Texas. Strange as the fact may appear, it 

 breeds in both these countries, as well as in many of the intermediate 

 districts. On the 10th of May, 1S33, I found it breeding along the marshy 

 edges of inland pools, near the Bay of Fundy, and, on Whitehead Island in 

 the same bay, saw several young birds of the same species, which, although 

 apparently not more than a week old, were extremely active both on land 

 and in the water. On the 30th of April, 1837, my son discovered a nest on 

 Galveston Island, in Texas. It was formed of grass and feathers, the eggs 

 eight in number, lying on the former, surrounded with the down and some 

 feathers of the bird, to the height of about three inches. The internal 

 diameter of the nest was about six inches, and its walls were nearly three 

 in thickness. The female was sitting, but flew off in silence as he approached. 

 The situation selected was a clump of tall slender grass, on a rather sandy 

 ridge, more than a hundred yards from the nearest water, but surrounded by 

 partially dried salt-marshes. On the same island, in the course of several 



