THE :\IALLARD. 765 



General Range. — Xorthern parts of northern hemisphere ; in America south 

 to Panama and Cuba, breeding soutliward to southern United States ; less common 

 in the East. 



Range in Washington. — Common resident and migrant thruout tlic State — 

 formerly abundant. 



.'Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. i 1814) Ed. Biddle : Coues, \'ol. 

 II. p. 193.] Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. i8s8. p. 775. T. C&S. I/. Rh. 

 D". Kb. D^ Kk. J. P.. E. 



Specimens.— (U. of W. ) P. Prov. B. BX. E. 



THE Mallard is the best known representati\-e of the duck family, either 

 in Europe or America. Excepting in the Atlantic States, where it is a rather 

 uncommon winter \'isitor, it is abundant thruotit the United Slates, and along 

 the Pacific coast it is often resident \\ here\-er found. 



A "wheat-fed Mallard" must be eaten to be fully appreciated, and apart 

 from its fla\or its large size makes the Ijird a great favorite with sportsmen. 

 The flesh is almost alwa}-s in prime condition for the table, since the bird's 

 diet is almost entirely confined Xo seeds, acorns, green grass, or cloxer, and 

 grain of various kinds. A marked exception to this is often found in Febru- 

 ar_\'. At this season the salmon, ha\'ing long since deposited their spawn, are 

 to be seen in hundreds along the banks of our streams in all stages of de- 

 composition. In company with a few other ducks the ^ilallards hold high 

 carnival upon this nauseating fare, and the after effect upon their edible 

 qualities can better be imagined than described. 



The call note of the drake is a feeble quack, as if he were too hoarse to 

 speak much above a whisper, and it can be heard at a distance of only a few 

 feet. It is the voice of the duck, or female, that gladdens the heart of the 

 sportsman, as he waits impatiently in his "blind" for the coming of davlight. 

 She is the first of all the duck tribe to wake up, and at the earliest signs of 

 dawn her ringing Quack, quack, quack, as she starts out in search of breakfast, 

 may be heard at a long distance. 



In connection with the Mallard's fi.io(l a most remarkable state of affairs 

 has come to pass on the Xis(|ually Flats, a large marsh surrounding the mouth 

 of the Xisqually Ri\er, where it empties into Puget Sound near Olympia. 

 These flats ha\"e been shot over to stich an extent dtiring the past vears that the 

 mufl has become charged with duck shot. The Mallards eat all of these shot 

 that they can find, evidently mistaking them for seeds or gravel : and the 

 result is certain death from lead poisoning. Xo other species seems to be so 

 affected: but, incredilile as it ma}- seem, during the winter of 1907-8 the 

 writer heard i:)f many such cases, and personallv fotmcl and examined two. 

 One of the stomachs contained nineteen shot, the other twent3'-seven. The 



