DUSKY DUCK. 
311 
of all our gunners along this part of the coast during winter; 
but there are at least ten Black Duck for one Goose or Brant, 
and probably many more. Their voice resembles that of the Duck 
and Mallard ; but their flesh is greatly inferior, owing to the 
nature of their food. They are, however, large, heavy bodied 
Ducks, and generally esteemed. 
I cannot discover that this species is found in any of the re- 
mote northern parts of our continent; and this is probably the 
cause why it is altogether unknown in Europe. It is abundant 
from Florida to New England; but is not enumerated among 
the birds of Hudson’s Bay, or Greenland. Its chief residence 
is on the seacoast, though it also makes extensive excursions 
up the tide waters of our rivers. Like the Mallard they rarely 
dive for food, but swim and fly with great velocity. 
The Dusky, or Black Duck, is two feet in length, and three 
feet two inches in extent; the bill is of a dark greenish ash, 
formed very much like that of the Mallard, and nearly of the 
same length; irides dark; upper part of the head deep dusky 
brown, intermixed on the fore part with some small streaks of 
drab; rest of the head and greater part of the neck pale yellow 
ochre, thickly marked with small streaks of blackish brown; 
lower part of the neck, and whole lower parts, deep dusky, 
each feather edged with brownish white, and with fine seams 
of rusty white; upper parts the same, but rather deeper; the 
outer vanes of nine of the secondaries bright violet blue, form- 
ing the beauty spot, which is bounded on all sides by black; 
wings and tail sooty brown; tail feathers sharp pointed; legs 
and feet dusky yellow; lining of the wings pure white. 
The female has more brown on her plumage; but in other re- 
spects differs little from the male, both having the beauty spot 
on the wing. 
Note . — Of all our Ducks this is perhaps the most sagacious 
and the most fearful of man. In the neighbourhood of Phila- 
delphia they are found in great numbers, they are notwithstand- 
ing hard to be obtained, in consequence of their extreme vigi- 
