200 
ANAS OBSCURA. 
! 2 () 3 > A^AS OliSCURAf G5IKL1N AXI) t\'ILSOX. — DUSKY Dl'CK* 
WIDSON, PLATE LXXII. FIG. V. 
This species is generally known along the sea coas‘ 
of New Jersey, and the neiglibotiring country, by 
name of the black duck, being the most common a"® 
most numerous of all tliose of its tribe, that freqiiefl* 
the salt marshes. It is only partially migratorf' 
Numbers of them roraaiii during the summer, and bref® 
in sequestered places in the marsh, or on the sea islauJ* 
of the beach. The (!ggs are eight or ten in nuinbe'’' 
very nearly resembling those of the domestic duel*’ 
Vast numbers, however, regularly migrate farther noft*' 
on the approach of spring. During their resident* 
here in winter they frequent the marshes, and 
various creeks and inlets with which tliose extensi'^ 
flats are intersected. Their jirincipal food consists ® 
those minute snail shells so abundant in the marslK^, 
They occasionally visit the sandy beach in search «' 
small bitiilves, and, on these occasions, sometimes cov**^ 
whole acres with their numbers. They roost at uii-d*' 
in tjie shallow ponds, in the middle of the salt marst'' 
particularly on islands, where many are caught by tK’ 
foxes. They are extremely shy during the'’ d.ay ; , 
on the most distant report of a musket, rise from 
quarter of the marsh in prodigious numbers, dispersi’’^ 
in every direction. In calm weather they fly hitT*’’ 
beyond the reach of shot ; hut when the wind bD"'* 
hard, and the gunner conceals himself among the 
grass, in a place over which they usually flyf they 
shot down iu great numbers ; their flight beiii" th®'' 
low. Geese, brant, and black duck, are the conim"’' 
game of all our gunners along this part of the co®-f 
during winter; but there are at least ten black dnf 
for one goose or brant, and probably many more. Thfl^ 
voice resembles that of the duck aud mallard ; but th*'!’’ 
flesh is greatly inferior, owing to the nature of thf'’’ 
food. They are, however, large, heavy bodied ducks' 
aud generally esteemed, 
