THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
seems to prefer shallow waters, where it can paddle about 
and search the mud and vegetation near the bank. It 
never dives, but often turns almost perpendicular, with 
little more than its tail above the surface, and with rapidly 
moving legs and feet to preserve its position searches the 
bottom for food. It swims well too, and flies with great 
speed and strength, the wings beating rapidly with a 
whistling noise, or sometimes held arched and rigid as the 
bird skims along for some distance. I have said that it 
never dives, in the ordinary acceptance of the term, but it 
may often be seen flying under the water with a great 
splashing in chase of its mate or companions in a sort of 
frolic. It is wary enough in a wild state, and most diffi- 
cult to approach, suspicious of everything. In the vicinity 
of London it is generally met with in pairs here and there, 
but in winter it often assembles into large flocks, which in 
some cases consort with other species. It is almost an 
omnivorous bird, feeding on vegetable substances, grain of 
all kinds, and its animal diet may be said to range from 
an insect to a fish. It is a gluttonous eater, and often 
traverses long distances in quest of food, which is mostly 
sought during night-time. ‘The familiar quack of this 
Duck needs no description, but the bird also utters many 
other sounds which I find it impossible to express in 
writing. ‘The Mallard breeds early, the eggs being laid 
in March or April. The bird pairs for life, and the nest 
is generally made on the ground in some quiet spot, very 
often far from water, amongst grain, bracken, or heath. 
Sometimes it is made in a hole in a tree, amongst ivy—as I 
once knew in Hyde Park—or even in the old nest of a 
Rook or a Crow. When on the ground it is a mere 
hollow lined with fern-fronds, bits of heath, and dry grass, 
but as the eggs are deposited a warm, thick bed of down is 
added. ‘The eggs, from eight to sixteen, are bufhish green 
or greenish buff. ‘The drake takes no share in rearing the 
brood, nor is he ever seen near the nest. ‘The young are 
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