No. 6.] BIRD NAMES. 15 



Long Island, by Capt. R. L. Petty, and other old baymen. The 

 cross was originally obtained from eggs found on a neighboring 

 marsh, and hatched under a hen. The birds differ greatly in 

 color, the mixed parentage showing itself in numerous combi- 

 nations. The female is astonishingly savage during incubation, 

 flying at one's boot like a mad dog. 



Though Mallards visit a few localities in New England 

 quite regularly (viz., Middleborough Ponds, Mass., vicinity about 

 mouth of Connecticut River, &c.), New-Englanders, as a rule, 

 have few opportunities of familiarizing themselves with this 

 wild stock ; and I have heard many gunners tell of losing or 

 nearly losing good shots at these birds, under the supposition 

 that they were the property of a neighbor, so closely do they 

 resemble the barn-yard fowl. 



MALLARD: GREEN-HEAD: WILD DRAKE: WILD DUCK: COM- 

 MON WILD DUCK. In English works that treat of wildfowl, 

 the name DUCK alone distinguishes it, other varieties being 

 referred to as " Widgeon," " Porchard," " Scaup-duck," etc. 



At Wilmington, N. C. ; Charleston, S. C. ; Savannah, Ga. ; 

 and in Florida at St. Augustine, and Sanford, ENGLISH DUCK: 

 and in Louisiana FRENCH DUCK. 



The female (believed by many a distinct species) is known to 

 marketmen and others at Detroit, to the "punters" of St. Clair 

 Flats, at Point Pelee (near head of Lake Erie), West Barn- 

 stable, Mass., and in Atlantic Co., New Jersey, as GRAY DUCK,* 



* Though as a rule " Gray Duck " stands in New England for female No. 13 

 (see both 9 and 13), the name is occasionally borrowed for this less common 

 species, that is to say, when the latter appears unattended by full-feathered 

 drake. The two females look near enough alike to be mistaken for each other 

 by careless observers, and it may be noted that Mr. F. C. Browne, in a list of 

 "gunners' names " (Forest and Stream, Nov. 9, 1876), gives the Mallard's name 

 " English Duck " as locally applied at Plymouth Bay to No. 13. I was told at 

 West Barnstable that their " Gray Duck " looked " exactly like a common tame 

 one," and always had " a bright blue spot on its wing." Desiring more evi- 

 dence, I asked that the first one killed might be sent me, and a few weeks 

 later received a gray Mallard, it being, I was told, one of three seen. 



