DUSKY DUCK. 249 



which some years ago was rather scarce in South Carolina, is now becoming 

 quite abundant in that state, where, during autumn and winter, it resorts to 

 the rice-fields. After feeding a few weeks on the seeds it becomes fat, juicy, 

 and tender. He adds that the farther inland, the more plentifully does it 

 occur, which may be owing to the many steamers that ply on the rivers 

 along the sea coast, where very few are to be seen. They are, however, 

 followed in their retreats, and shot in great numbers, so that the markets of 

 Charleston are now amply supplied with them. He also informs me that he 

 has known hybrid broods produced by a male of this species and the common 

 domestic Duck; and that he had three of these hybrid females, the eggs of 

 all of which were productive. The young birds were larger than either of 

 their parents, but although they laid eggs in the course of the following 

 spring, not one of these proved impregnated. He further states that he pro- 

 cured three nests of the Dusky Duck in the State of New York. 



The young of this species, in the early part of autumn, afford delicious 

 eating, and, in my estimation, are much superior in this respect to the more 

 celebrated Canvass-back Duck. That the species should not before now 

 have been brought into a state of perfect domestication, only indicates our 

 reluctance unnecessarily to augment the comforts which have been so boun- 

 tifully accorded by Nature to the inhabitants of our happy country. In our 

 eastern markets the price of these birds is from a dollar to a dollar and fifty 

 cents the pair. They are dearer at New Orleans, but much cheaper in the 

 States of Ohio and Kentucky, where they are still more abundant. Their 

 feathers are elastic, and as valuable as those of any other species. 



I have represented a pair of these birds procured in the full perfection of 

 their plumage. 



Dusky Duck, Anas obscura, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 141. 

 Anas obscura, Bonap. Syn., p. 384. 

 Dusky Duck, Anas obscura, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 392. 

 Dusky Duck, Anas obscura, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 15. 



Male, 241, 35^. Female, 22, 34^. 



Breeds in Texas, westward, and throughout the United States, British 

 Provinces, and Labrador. Columbia river. Common in autumn and spring 

 along the Middle Atlantic Districts. Abundant in the Southern and West- 

 ern States in winter. 



Adult Male. 



Bill about the length of the head, higher than broad at the base, depressed 

 and widened towards the end, rounded at the tip. Upper mandible with the 

 dorsal line sloping and a little concave, the ridge at the base broad and flat, 

 towards the end broadly convex, as are the sides, the edges soft and thin, the 



Vol. VI. 34 



