I 62 WILD DUCK. 



Genus— ANAS. 



ANAS BOSCAS— Wild Duck. 



iMallard—Yarrell?^ 



High o'er the restless deep, above the reach 



Of gunner's hope, vast flights of Wild Ducks stretch 



Far as the eye can glance on either side. 



In a broad space and level line they glide. 



All in their wedge-like figures from the north 



Day after day, flight after flight, go forth. 



Crabbe — The Borough. 



Ye Duck and Drake, wi' airy wheels, circling the lake. 



BvRNS—Elegp. 



Large flocks of Wild Ducks visit the British Isles every winter ; 

 and although they are said with good reason to have been much 

 more abundant formerly, immense numbers are still captured in the 

 decoys specially made for them ; and are also shot by sportsmen all 

 over the country. The greater number depart in spring for more 

 northern latitudes, but many remain to breed in such suitable places 

 as still exist in the country. 



O'er the fen the Wild Duck brood 

 Their early way are winging, 



J. Baillie— ^Soni/. 



The Wild Duck is an early breeder. It makes its nest 

 in hedgerows, or bushes, sometimes at a considerable distance 

 from the water. Occasionally it builds on pollard trees, or ivied 

 walls many feet above the ground level. The Duck covers her 

 eggs on leaving the nest. The food of the Wild Duck consists of 

 worms, slugs, insects, grain, seed, starwort, grass, water-crowfoot, 

 tadpoles, and small fish. 



The change of plumage of the Wild Duck has been minutely 

 described by Waterton. He notices the assumption of the sober 

 colours of the Ducks, by the Mallard during the breeding season ; 

 and the gradual restoration of its own. "By the loth of October, 

 the Drake will appear again in all his rich magnificence of dress, 

 than which, scarcely anything throughout the whole wide field of 

 nature can be seen more lovely, or better arranged to charm the 

 eye of man." 



