The Great Black Duck from Hudfon’s-Bay. 
T HIS Bird is large for the Duck-kind, appearing to me to be bigger than the 
common Wild Duck or Mallard . I have taken fome of its principal Mea- 
fures, which are as follow : The Bill from its Point to the Angles of the Mouth is 
two Inches and an Half long, and fomething deeper from its Point to the Bafe of the 
upper Mandible, where it projects fartheft into the Head ; the Wing when clofed o is 
nine Inches long j the Leg below Knee, is near two Inches long, the middle Toe 
two and a Half. 
The Bill is compreffed horizontally toward its Point; its Bafe is as deep as wide ; 
it is indented on its Edges, of a pale Orange-Colour, except in its Middle about the 
Noftrils, where it is Red, or of a deep Orange. In the broad Part of the upper Mandi¬ 
ble, next the Head, there is on each Side a large fquarifh black Spot, which rifes a 
little from the Bill, and feems as if it was fomething ftuck on. The Bill itfelf in thefe 
Parts alfo is protuberant. From Eye to Eye on the Crown of the Head extends a 
white Spot in the Form of a Triangle, its two bluntilh Points falling on the upper 
Part of the Eyes, and the fharper point toward the Bill, but not quite to it, there 
being black Feathers between them. On the Hinder-part of the Neck, juft below 
the Head, is another longifh triangular Spot, having its narroweft Side next the 
Head, and its acuteft Angle pointing downward toward the Back. Except thefe 
two white Spots the whole Plumage of the Bird is Black, without any Glofs re- 
fledting other Colours; the Infides of the Wing and the under Side of the Tail are 
not fo Black as they are above, being of a dark Afh-Colour ; the Legs and Toes are 
of a bright-red Colour; the three forward Toes are webbed together, and the inner 
Toe hath a Web or Fin on its Infide ; the hinder Toe hath alfo a fmall Fin ; the 
Webs of the Toes and the Claws are of a dufky Colour. 
The Native Place of this Bird is above declared ; it was brought over by Mr. 
IJham. It, as well as the laft defcribed, is very remarkable for the Structure of its 
Bill. My Friend, Mr. Henry Baker , F. R. S. hath a Bill of this Bird in his Col- 
ledtion, which agrees exadtly with the above. I believe this Bird hath never bee-n def¬ 
cribed, but I cannot fay fo in refpedt to its Figuring ; becaufe I think I have difcovered 
a Draught of it, in a fmall Set of Dutch Prints of Birds, (publifhed at Amfterdam 
by Nicola Vijjcher, Anno 1659, where it is called Burma Anfer) whofe Marks and 
Make of the Bill agree with mine. I imagine it might be brought to them from 
Davis' s Streights , to which Place the Hollanders have long traded. Perhaps their 
Bignefs, and appearing in fmall Flocks, have procured them the above Name. 
