MALLARD. 237 



Family ANATID^E. Genus ANAS. 



Sub-family AN A TIN ^E, 



MALLARD. 



ANAS BOSCHAS, Linnaus. 



Single Brooded. Laying season, March, April, May 

 (exceptionally even in February). 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA : The Mallard is commonly 

 and generally distributed throughout the British Islands 

 in all districts suited to its requirements, extending to 

 the Hebrides, the Orkneys, and Shetlands. It is not so 

 abundant as a breeding species in England, perhaps, as 

 was formerly the case, before drainage destroyed many 

 of its haunts, but it still continues fairly common. 



BREEDING HABITS : The Mallard is a resident in the 

 British Islands, but largely increased in numbers during 

 autumn and winter by arrivals from other lands. The 

 nesting haunts of this ubiquitous species are of a very 

 varied character, and extend from the marshes and 

 swamps of the lowlands to the mountain moors and 

 wet upland wastes. Water is by no means essential, 

 and yet in some districts there is scarcely a pond or a 

 stream that is not frequented by a pair of birds. The 

 bird is not perhaps gregarious during the breeding season, 

 but it is to a very great extent a social one, and several 

 nests may often be found within a few yards. The 

 Mallard unquestionably pairs for life. The nest is made 

 in a great variety of situations, and by no means always 

 on the ground. I have taken nests of this Duck in open 

 parts of Sherwood Forest, on ground covered with 

 bracken and studded with thorn trees ; also on the barest 

 ground under long heather on small islands in the 

 Highland lochs. Sometimes a deserted nest of a Crow 



