140 NATURAL HISTORY IBirds. 



Species 8. — The Mallard. 



Common Wild Duck and Mallard, Common Tame Duck, Wil. Orn. 371, 380. 

 Raii Syn. Av. 143, 150. Anas Boschas. A, domestica. Lin. Sijs. 205. 

 Bnt. Zool. 462. Brit. Zool. Illus. tab. 24. Ore. Stock Duck. 



Wild Ducks build in great numbers through the country, 

 in the marshes, meadows, and hohiis ; but this is nothing to 

 the flocks of them that migrate hither in winter, and perfectly 

 cover our lochs and bays. These make this their retreat till 

 the return of spring drives them off from us. We have no 

 way of catching these but by the gun and water-spaniel, and 

 they are generally so wild there is no such thing as coming 

 near them. The great resort of ducks is to the loch of Sten- 

 ness, and others through the mainland and isles ; and, when 

 these are frozen, the sea ; in these places they may be seen 

 in winter in surprising numbers, and upon the report of a gun 

 rise like clouds. 



Sometimes the wild duck's eggs are hatched under a hen, 

 and thus tamed, but for a long time retain the marks of their 

 wild ancestors, falling off from them by degrees, by mixing 

 with those which are still farther removed from their wild state. 

 Ducks sell here for sixpence a-piece. 



