20 DUSKY BUCK.
lent eating ; but when the ponds are .covered with ice, and they a w
forced to betake themselves to estuaries- .or inlets of .the Sea, their
flesh bocome* less juiey and assumes a fishy flavour. During continued
frost they collect into larger bodies than at.any other time, a
flock once alighted seeming to attract others, until at last hundreds
of them meet, especially in the dawn and towards sunset. The larger
the flock however, the more difficult it is to approach it, for many
sentinels are seen on the look-out, While the rest are asleep or feeding
along the shores. Unlike the " Sea Ducks," this species does not ride
at anchor, as it were, during its hours -jst repose.
My friend, the Reverend Dr John Bachman, assures me that this
bird, which some years ago was rather ; scarce in South Carolina, is
now becoming 'quite abundant in that state, wher(S( during autumn and
winter, it resorts to the rice fields. After feeding a few weeks on the
seeds it becomes fat, juicy, and tender. He adds that the farther inland,
the more plentifully does it occur, which may be owing to the
many steamers that ply on the rivers along, the sea coast, where very
few are to be seen. They are however followed in their retreats, and
shot in great'numbers^? so that the markets of Charleston aie now amply
supplied with them. He also informs me that he has known hybrid
broods produced by a male of this species and the common domestic
duck , and that he had three of thèse hybrid females, the eggs of all
of'which were productive. Thé young birds were larger than either of
their parents, but although they laid eggs in the course of the following
spring, not one of these proved impregnated. He further states
that he procured three nests of the Dusky Duck in the State of New
York.
The young of this species, in the early part of autumn, afford delicious
eating, and, in my estimation, are much uperior in this respect
to the more celebrated Canvass-back Duck. That the species should
not before now have been brought into a state oif perfect domestication,
only indicates our reluctance unnecessarily to augment the comforts
which have been so bountifully accorded by Nature to the inhabitants
of our happy country. In our eastern markets the price of these
birds is from a dollar to a dollar and fifty cents,the pair. They aïe dearer
at New Orleans, but much cheaper in the States of Ohio and Kentucky,
where they are still more abundant. Their feathers are elastic, and
as valuable as those of any other species.
DUSKY DUCK. 21
I have represented a pair of these birds procured in the full perfection
of their plumage.'
Anas obscuba, Lath. Sviiops. iii. p. Mr,.—(X Bomjmrte, Synopsis of Birds of the
United States, p. 384.
Dusky Duck, Anas obscuha, Vtth. Amur. Ormth. vol. viii. p. 141. pi. 72. fig-
Dusky Duett,' NattcM, Manual, vol: ii. p. 392.
Adult Male. Plate CCCII. Kg. 1.
Bill about the length of the head, higher than broad at the base,
depressed «nd widened towards the end, rounded at the tip. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line sloping and a little, concave, the ridge at
the base broad and flat, towards the: end broadly convex, as are the
sides, the edges soft and thin, the marginal lamella? about forty on eaeh
side.;- the unguis obovate, curved, abrupt at the end. Nasal groove
elliptical, sub-basal, filled by the soft, membrane of the bill; nostrils
sub-basal, placed near the ridge, longitudinal, elliptical, pervious; Lower
mandible slightly curved upwards, flattened, with the angle very long,
narrow, and rather pointed, the lamella; about sixty.
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed ii-Sneck rather long, and
slender; body full, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed a little behind
the centre of the body; legs bare a little above the joint; tarsus short.,
a little compressed, anteriorly with small scutella, externally of which
is a series continuous with those of the outer toe, laterally and behind
with reticulated angular scales. Hind toe extremely small, with a
very narrow membranes third toe longest, fourth-a little shorter, but
longer than the second; the scutella of the second and third oblique, of
the outer transvessel the three, anterior toes .connected by reticulated
membranes, the outer with a-thick margin, the inner with the margin
extended into a slightly lobed webs Claws small, arched, compressed,
rather obtuse, that of the middle toe much larger, with a dilated,, thin
edge. . •
Plumage dense, soft, and elastic ; on the head and neck the feathers
linear-oblong, on the other parts in general broad and rounded.- Wings
of moderate .breadth- and length,- acute«; primaries narrow and tapering*
the second longest, the first very little; Shorter; secondaries broad,
curved inwards, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail short, much
rounded, of eighteen acute feathers, none of which are reserved.