200 
ANAS OB'SCURA. 
263 . ANAS OBSCURA , GMELIN AND WILSON. — DUSKY DUCK. 
WILSON, PLATE LXXII. I’lG. V. 
This species is generally known along the sea coast 
of New Jersey, and the neighbouring country, by the 
name of the black duck, being the most common and 
most numerous of all those of its tribe, that frequent 
the salt marshes. It is only partially migratory. 
Numbers of them remain during the summer, and breed 
in sequestered places in the marsh, or on the sea islands 
of the beach. The eggs are eight or ten in number, 
very nearly resembling those of the domestic duck. 
Vast numbers, however, regularly migrate farther north 
on the approach of spring. During their residence 
here in winter they frequent the marshes, and the 
various creeks and inlets with which those extensive 
flats are intersected. Their principal food consists of 
those minute snail shells so abundant in the marshes. 
They occasionally visit the sandy beach in search of 
small bivalves, and, on these occasions, sometimes cover 
whole acres with their numbers. They roost at night 
in the shallow ponds, in the middle of the salt marsh, 
particularly on islands, where many are caught by the 
foxes. They are extremely shy during the day ; and 
on the most distant report of a musket, rise from every 
quarter of the marsh in prodigious numbers, dispersing 
in every direction. In calm, weather they fly high, 
beyond the reach of shot ; but when the wind blows 
hard, and the gunner conceals himself among the salt 
grass, in a place over which they usually fly, they are 
shot down in great numbers ; their flight being then 
low. Geese, brant, and black duck, are the common 
game 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. 
