THE MALLARD DUCK. 



We should probably think this 

 the most beautiful of ducks, were 

 the Wood Duck not around. 



His rich glossy-green head 

 and neck, snowy white collar, 

 and curly feathers of the tail 

 are surely marks of beauty. 



But Mr. Mallard is not so 

 richly dressed all of the year. 

 Like a great many other birds, 

 he changes his clothes after the 

 holiday season is over. When 

 he does this, you can hardly tell 

 him from his mate who wears a 

 sober dress all the year. 



Most birds that change their 

 plumage wear their bright, 

 beautiful dress during the sum- 

 mer. Not so with Mr. Mallard. 

 He wears his holiday clothes 

 during the winter. In the sum- 

 mer he looks much like his mate. 



Usually the Mallard family 



have six to ten eggs in their nest. 

 They are of a pale greenish 

 color very much like the eggs 

 of our tame ducks that we see 

 about the barnyards. 



Those who have studied birds 

 say that our tame ducks are 

 descendants of the Mallards. 



If you were to hear the Mal- 

 lard's quack, you could not tell it 

 from that of the domestic duck. 



The Mallard usually makes 

 her nest of grass, and lines it 

 with down from her breast. 

 You will almost always find 

 it on the ground, near the water, 

 and well sheltered by weeds and 

 tall grasses. 



It isn't often you see a duck 

 with so small a family. It must 

 be that some of the ducklings 

 are away picking up food. 



Do you think they look like 

 young chickens ? 



