WILD DUCK. 



265 



NATATORES. 



>r - . 



THE WILD DUCK. 



Anas boschas. 



Anas boschas, The Mallard, 

 Wild Duck, 



PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 258. 



MONTAGU, Ornith. Diet. 

 BEWICK, Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 342. 



Common FLEM. Brit. An. p. 123. 



Wild SELBT, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 305. 



The Mallard, JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 233. 



Common Wild Duck, GOULD, Birds of Europe. 

 Canard sauvage, TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. ii. p. 835. 



FROM the evidence of Pennant and others it appears cer- 

 tain that the Wild Duck was formerly much more nume- 

 rous in the British Islands than it is at present. To the 

 progress of draining, and the consequent extension of agri- 

 culture, this change may be greatly attributed, and though 

 a few pairs of this handsome and valuable species may still 

 remain here to breed during summer on the margins of 



