184 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



AA'AS BOSCHAS. Linn. 

 Mallard. 



Adult Male. — Head and neck, glossy green; ring around the 

 lower part of the neck, white; breast, purple-chestnut ; wing-coverts 

 tipped with white and black. 



Length 24, wing 11. 



A very marked species, easily recognized by its large size and 

 green head. 



The Mallard is a regular winter visitant, frecjuenting the inland 

 lakes and ponds. It is a very handsome duck, and is much sought 

 after by sportsmen, as it affords excellent eating. Audubon, in 

 writing of this species says, " The flight of the Mallard is swift, strong, 

 and well sustained. It rises either from the eround or from the 

 water at a single spring, and flies almost perpendicularly for ten or 

 fifteen yards, or if in a thick wood, until quite above the tops of the 

 tallest trees, after which it moves horizontally. If alarmed, it never 

 rises without uttering several qucxcks ; but on other occasions it 

 generally leaves its place in silence. While travelling to any dis- 

 tance the whistling sound of their wings may be heard a great way 

 off, more especially in the quiet of the night. Their progress 

 through the air I have thought might be estimated at a mile and a 

 half in the minute; and I feel very confident that when at full speed 



