100 GAME BIEDS OF CALIFORNIA 



celery was found to make up 2.48% and pond weeds 12.67% of the 

 food for the year, in the 209 stomachs examined from all over the 

 United States. 



Its large size and delicious flavor make this the most valuable game 

 bird of its kind in the state. While feeding on grain it becomes 

 excessively fat, attaining a weight of over three pounds. Its palata- 

 bility also increases at this time and it then brings the highest price 

 in the market, even the famed Canvasback taking second rank. In 

 the season of 1895-96 there were 47,565 Mallards sold in the markets 

 of San Francisco at twenty-five cents apiece (Calif. Fish Comm., 1896, 

 p. 42). During the season 1911-12 the markets paid an average price 

 of fifty cents apiece for them, and at one time as high as eighty cents. 



Owing to its habit of foraging far from water the Mallard affords 

 ideal "pass shooting." In addition it is easily decoyed. Thus it 

 has every requisite of a fine game bird and is consequently the favorite 

 of the sportsman. 



The Mallard breeds readily in captivity and for that reason has 

 been widely domesticated. A pond, seclusion, and plenty of weeds 

 and grass are the chief needs. On the State Game Farm at Hayward, 

 Alameda County, Mallards rear broods each year. Several fanciers 

 have also been successful in raising the bird in this state. There is 

 every indication that this species can be propagated for the market 

 on a large scale. The increasing prices obtainable from year to year 

 point towards this as a profitable industry. 



In England Mallards have been raised regularly in captivity and 

 made to fly in a straight line over guns to afford sport. 



Both in the wild state and in captivity this bird readily hybridizes 

 with other near-related species. A highly esteemed variety of barn- 

 yard duck is a hybrid between the Mallard and Muscovy Duck. 

 Hybrids also occur between the Mallard, and the Pintail. Gadwall, 

 Shoveller, and Black Duck, respectively. 



In 1889 A. M. Shields (Davie, 1889, p. 62) stated that, during 

 the summer, the^ Mallard was, "perhaps, the most common of the 

 ducks in the vicinity of Los Angeles.'' But of recent years accord- 

 ing to H. J. Lelande (in letter), very few if any breed in Los Angeles 

 County. A brood was known to have been reared in 1904 at Little 

 Elizabeth Lake. Filling-in of swamps and close settlement of the 

 territory has its inevitable effects on birds of this class. In the San 

 Joaquin Valley the Mallard is certainly outnumbered in summer by 

 the Cinnamon Teal. But whereas the latter may be found plentifully 

 about both alkaline and fresh water ponds and marshes, the I\Iallard 

 shows a decided preference for fresh water. 



That the numbers of Mallards have been greatly reduced is evident. 

 Anyone conversant with game conditions will name this species as one 



