55 



them sailing home over the tops of cedars in tlie greatest haste. With 

 the exception of my pet otter, " Pontiac," the two ducks in question 

 were the most affectionate and interesting pets I have ever had iti my 

 possession. 



In point of standing and respectability, the maliai-d comes next to 

 the black duck. The mallard (Anas hoschas) is the original parent 

 stock of the common domesticated duck. The drake of the latter 

 species — wanting only the fineness of outline — bears a complete resem- 

 blance to the wild drake or mallard. The females of the wild species 

 are of a uniform grey colour like the plumage of the tame breed. 

 This fine duck is of about the same size and weight as the black duck. 

 It, like the latter, is so generally known as scarcely to require further 

 description. The flesh of the mallard is scarcely equal to that of the 

 black duck, being somewhat coarser in quality. The mallard is a some- 

 what rare visitant in the Ottawa region. It is quite plentiful, however, 

 in the far western parts of Canada, particularly in the preserved shooting 

 grounds at the " St. Clair Flats." Sir John Richardson says : — " The 

 common v/ild duck is found in every fresh water river and lake of the 

 CJnited States in winter, but seldom frequents the sea shoreorsalt marshes. 

 Their summer residence is the north, the great nuraery of this numerous 

 genus. Instances have been known of some solitary pairs breeding 

 here in aiitumn. In England these instances are more common. The 

 nest is usually placed in the most solitai-y recess 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 are those of the tame duck, but with 

 a superior caution, a cunning and watchful vigilance peculiar 1o 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 brcod. 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 

 wood duck (Aix sponsa), is smaller by more than one-third than either 

 the black duck or the mallard. The male is one of the most beautifully 

 marked birds of the whole duck genus. In a preserved state it is 



