MALLARD 219 



one is allowed to shoot them. And similarly Mr. Ussher, in his 

 delightful Birds of Ireland, remarks on this same theme : " When my 

 cows go to drink where the ducks are standing, the latter merely move 

 aside, and the presence of the cowherd at most causes them to fly 

 out on the water ; but should any one approach with an umbrella, or 

 even with black clothes, they quit the lake." 



During the autumn months large numbers of immigrants reach our 

 shores, and these seem for the most part to make the sea their head- 

 quarters, finding much if not most of their food there, but foraging 

 inland at night. Our home-bred birds, on the other hand, seem to 

 remain where they were bred, though resorting to the sea if ice has 

 locked up their usual food-supply. 



In its choice of habitat the mallard is not hard to please ; for it 

 will find congenial haunts alike on bare Highland lochs in Scotland 

 and the richly stocked waters of a Norfolk Broad at the sea-level. 

 Bogs, ditches, and the seashore besides are drawn upon as the need 

 arises, while after rain the marshes form an irresistible attraction for 

 the sake of worms and slugs, and in the autumn grain gathered from 

 the stubble, and acorns from the hedges, afford a welcome change of 

 diet. During most of the year it is omnivorous. No animal matter con- 

 tained in the water is despised, nor is any green thing that grows 

 there deemed unpalatable. Much of its food seems to be obtained 

 by passing large quantities of mud and water through the beak, when 

 the solid, edible portions are retained, the rest being rejected by the 

 aid of the horny strainers which depend from the edges of the upper 

 jaw. In the choice of food, doubtless the thick, fleshy tongue plays 

 an important part. That the mallard is largely a night-feeder is due 

 to force of circumstances rather than choice. Where they have an 

 assured security from persecution they feed by day and sleep by 

 night. 



The flight is both rapid and powerful, the swish of the wings 

 being plainly audible even at a distance of several yards. When 

 alighting on the water the body is suddenly inclined upwards, the 



