94 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Nesf. May. One brood. 



Site. On the ground among herbage, &c., and usually 

 near water. 



Materials. Sedges, reeds, dry grass, leaves, and pieces 

 of heather, lined with brown down, having lighter centre 

 and no white tips. 



Eggs. Seven to ten or more. Creamy or buffish 

 white. 



MALLARD OR WILD DUCK (Anas boscas). 



The progenitor of our domesticated Duck. Our 

 commonest Duck, being well distributed throughout 

 Great Britain, and nesting where suitable. 



Haunts. Fresh-water lakes and rivers, &c. 



Plumage. Head and neck green ; white ring round 

 neck. Breast chestnut ; speculum green, bordered with 

 white. Rump, upper and under tail-coverts and curled 

 feathers of tail black, remaining tail-feathers grey ; 

 flanks and belly dull white. Bill yellowish green. Legs 

 and feet orange-red. Length 24 in. Female smeller, 

 and plumage generally mottled with brown and buff. 

 The male assumes a plumage like the female in May, 

 known as the " Eclipse " plumage. Young, like the 

 female. Nestling in down : dark brown above, paler 

 below. Throat buff. Buff stripe above eyes and brown 

 stripe through same. 



Language. Much resembling the homely " quack " 

 or " quark " of the domesticated Duck. 



Habits. It walks awkwardly (waddles), owing to the 

 backward position of the legs. It swims well, and can 

 submerge the body, leaving the bill only projecting above 

 water, when thoroughly alarmed. It flies rapidly with 

 neck outstretched. It feeds chiefly by night, sifting and 

 spattering mud in its specialized laminated bill. Before 

 the young are able to fend for themselves, the male, 

 like all true Ducks, sheds his nuptial plumage, and 



