76 THE MALLARD. 



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

 as wide as those of the Canvas-back. The windpipe is of uniform 

 diameter until it enters the labyrinth. 



This is the original 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 indiflFerent eye, and grovelling gait ; while 

 tlie lofty look, long tapering neck, and sprightly action of the former, 

 bespeak his native spirit and independence. 



The common Wild Duck is found in every fresh-water lake and river 

 of the United States in winter ; but seldom frequents the seashores or 

 salt marshes. Their 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 placed in the most solitary recesses 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 numerous 

 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 at pleasure. 



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

 tion ; and the ingenuity of man, in every country where it frequents, 

 has been employed in inventing stratagems to overreach these Avary 

 birds, and procure a delicacy for the table. To enumerate all these 

 various contrivances would far exceed our limits ; a few, however, of the 

 most simple and effective may be mentioned. 



In some ponds frequented by these birds, five or six wooden figures, 

 cut and painted so as to represent ducks, and sunk, by pieces of lead 

 nailed on their bottoms, so as to float at the usual depth on the surface, 

 are anchored in a favorable position for being raked from a concealment 

 of brush, &c., on shore. The appearance of these usually attracts 

 passing flocks, w^hich alight, and are shot down. Sometimes eight or 

 ten of these painted wooden ducks are fixed on a frame in various 

 swimming postures, and secured to the bow of the gunner's skiff, pro- 

 jecting before it in such a manner that the weight of the frame sinks 

 the figures to their proper depth ; the skiff is then dressed with sedge 

 or coarse grass in an artful manner, as low as the water's edge ; and 



