240 NATATORES. 
ing the operation of dressing and arranging their 
plumage, they are apt to be very noisy, their notes 
varying much from high to low, according to cireum- 
stances. Butso vigilant are they, that upon the least 
note of alarm from the sentinel all is immediately 
quiet, and they move noiselessly away from the scene 
of danger. 
Mallard Duck. 
Of the Duck tribe we have a large number of spe- 
cies, many of them possessed of beautiful plumage 
and interesting habits. Quite prominent among these 
is the Common Mallard, with its stately head of rich 
golden green, and back and breast and wings of va- 
ried shades of brown and blue and black and white. 
From this fine bird has sprung many of the races 
of Domestic Ducks which are now dispersed over the 
country. But in his wild state he bears so little re- 
semblance to his degenerate progeny, that one would 
scarcely recognize his connection with it. The Mal- 
