68

1916

(Black Duck) June 4 [June 4, 1916], a mated pair of native wild Black Ducks
that had of their own accord joined the flock of mallards in his
pond where the female was first seen last August (1915) and the
male some two months later. For a time they came and went on 
wing without any restraint & wherever they listed but at length were
enticed into an inner enclosure and pinioned. They are now very
tame but as yet have not bred. Both are typical tristis, with dull
blackish plumage and olive brown legs scarce noticeably tinged
with reddish. The drake's bill is uniformly dark, dull greenish in
color; that of the duck is dull blackish. All this I saw
unmistakably, while the birds were standing or walking about on
land within a few yards of me.