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( '55 )
The Great Black D U C K from Hudfon's-Bay.
T      H I S Bird is large for the Duck-kind, appearing to me to be bigger
than the
lT   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 proje~as fartheft into the Head; the Wing when clofed
is
nine Inches long; 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 fquarifl black Spot, which
rifes a
little from the Bill, and feems as if it was fomething fluck 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 bluntifl Points falling on
the upper
Part of the Eyes, andi the (harper point toward the Bill, but not quite to
it, thete
being black Feathers between them. On the Hinder-part of the Neck, juft below
the Head, is another longifh triangular Spot, having its narrowell 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-
fleding 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 Afi-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
MTr.
JlJZ'aiz. It, as well as the laft described, is very remarkable for the Structure
of its
Bill. My Friend, Mr. Heni-y Baker, F. R. S. hath a Bill of this Bird in his
Col-
ledion, which agrees exativ with the above. I believe this Bird hath never
been def-
cribed, but I cannot 1ry fo in refp ect to its Figuring ; becaufe I think
I have difuovered
a Draught of it, in a 1rlhnlll Set of Dutch Prints of Birds, (Iublifhed at
Am/ferdain
by Nicola Vicher, Anno 0 6 y, where it is called Tzarnza Af w) Whofe Marks
and
Malke of the Bill arece with D imne. I irnmaine it might be brought to themn
froimn
Da-nuis's Strei ghts, to which Place the ie/hianders have long traded.  Perhaps
their
Bigne(ys, and appearing, in fnmall Mock, have procured thenm the above Name.
The