The Mallard, — Anas hoschas, 157 



cliangeable green, ending in a narrow collar of white ; the rest of the 

 neck and breast are of a dark purplish chestnut ; lesser wing-coverts, brown 

 ash ; greater, crossed near the extremities with a band of white, and tipped 

 with another of deep velvety black ; below this lies the speculum, or beauty 

 spot, of a rich a splendid light purple, with green and violet reflections, 

 bounded on every side with black ; quills, pale brownish ash ; back, brown, 

 skirted with paler ; scapulars, whitish, crossed with fine, undulating lines of 

 black ; rump and tail-coverts, black, glossed with green ; tertials, very broad, 

 and pointed at the ends ; tail, consisting of eighteen feathers, whitish, centred 

 with brown ash, the four middle ones excepted, which are narrow, black, 

 glossed with violet, remarkably concave, and curled upwards to a complete 

 circle ; belly and sides, a fine gray, crossed by an infinite number of fine, 

 waving lines, stronger and more deeply marked as they approach the vent ; 

 legs and feet, orange red. 



" The female has the plumage of the upper parts dark brown, broadly 

 bordered with brownish yellow ; and the lower parts yellow ochre, spotted 

 and streaked with deep brown ; the chin and throat, for about two inches, 

 plain yellowish white ; wings, bill, and legs, nearly as in the male. 



" The windpipe of the male has a bony labyrinth, or bladder-like knob, 

 puffing out from the left side. The intestines measures six feet, and are as 

 wide as those of the Canvass-Back. The windpipe is of uniform diameter, 

 until it enters the labyrinth. 



" This is the osiginal stock of the common domesticated Duck, reclaimed, 

 time immemorial, from a state of nature, and now become so serviceable to 

 man. In many individuals, the general garb of the tame drake seems to 

 have undergone little or no alteration ; but the stamp of slavery is strongly 

 imprinted in his dull, indifierent eye and grovelling gait, while the lofty look, 

 long, tapering neck, and uprightly action of the former bespeak his native 

 spirit and independence. 



" The Common Wild Duck is foumd in every fresh-water lake and river 

 of the United States in winter, but seldom frequents the sea-shores or salt 

 marshes. Then- summer residence is the north, the great nursery of this 

 numerous genus. Instances have been known of some solitary pairs breeding 

 here in autumn. In England these instances are more common. The nest 

 is usually plaeed in the most solitary recess of the marsh, or bog, amidst 

 coarse grass, reeds, and rushes, and generally contains from twelve to sixteen 

 eggs, of a dull greenish white. The young are led about by the mother in 

 the same manner as those of the Tame Duck, but with a superior caution, a 

 cunning and watchful vigilance peculiar to her situation. The male attaches 

 himself to one female, as among other birds in their native state, and is the 

 guardian and protector of her and her feeble brood. The Mallard is numer- 

 ous in the rice-fields of the Southern States during winter, many of the fields 

 being covered with a few inches of water ; and, the scattered grains of the 

 former harvest lying in abundance, the Ducks swim about, and feed oX 

 pleasure. 



** The flesh of the Common Wild Duck is in general and high estima- 



