THE COURTSHIP OF THE MALLARD. 5 



but I think it may be said to be a low whistle with a 

 suspicion of a groan in it, as though it caused the bird 

 an effort to utter. 



Following this, the Mallards lower their breasts and 

 raise their tails two or three times in quick succession ; 

 and this, which we may call action No. 3 (see Fig. 

 3), is often followed by a repetition of actions Nos. 

 1 and 2. A quick " throw up " of head and tail, with 



FIG. 4. MALLARD DRAKE. COURTSHIP ACTION NO. 4. 

 (Drawn by H. Wormald.) 



the feathers of the head puffed out, is action No. 4 (see 

 Fig. 4), and this is followed quickly by action No. 5 

 (see Fig. 5), in which the drakes stretch out their necks 

 with their throats just over the water and swim rapidly 

 about in different directions, when, apparently by 

 common consent, they all come back to action No. 1, 

 and go through the whole performance over again. 



