CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 93 



helpful to his partner during the breeding-season, but 

 I remember once on coming across a Mallard's nest 

 in a wood, the eggs of which happened to be con- 

 cealed from view by having a covering over them, 

 being told by a man whom I took to be a keeper, 

 the reason for the nest being covered was that the 

 drake would smash the eggs all up if he found them 

 in the duck's absence — in the opinion, however, of 

 Mr. Henry Scherren, F.Z.S., this would appear to 

 be a libel on the drake. 



Mr. W. H. Hudson says: "The Mallard begins to 

 cast off all his feathers immediately the eggs are 

 laid, that up to this period he is not less loving and 

 solicitous than any other male bird, and that if by 

 any chance his moult should be delayed he continues 

 to guard the nest and share the labours of incubation." 

 He mentions this fact as one of the strangest things 

 in bird history. 



Of all British Ducks this species probably gives 

 the most sport, which is in a great measure due to 

 its being more of a fresh water species than any of 

 the others. By this I don't mean to imply that 

 Mallard do not go out to sea, because in open 

 weather in the winter they do go out, but by night- 

 fall generally come into the marshes to feed ; then 

 you get that extremely fascinating sport of flighting 

 on the wane of daylight. Mallard may almost 

 always be found during the winter on edges of lochs 

 in Scotland, loughs in Ireland, and lakes, etc., where 

 reeds and marshy swamps abound. I have met with 

 them even in small pools on the bogs of Ireland. 



