454 THE MALLARD. 



Linn.) was very common during the summer in the vicinity 

 of Ronnum, and also in the neighbouring Skargard, where 

 many indeed remained the whole year round. Some occa- 

 sionally wintered with us likewise in the rapids of the Gotha, 

 or in other streams that continued unfrozen. This bird is 

 also common throughout nearly the whole of Scandinavia, 

 from the extreme south of Sweden to far beyond the polar 

 circle. M. von Wright assumes Karesuando to be its ex- 

 treme limit to the northward, but stragglers have been met 

 with even still higher up. It is very common in Denmark. 

 Partially migrates. 



To judge by what follows, the habits of ducks in after- 

 life, as with men, are much dependent on the manner in 

 which they are reared. 



"Near to the mansion of Vissbo, in the province of 

 Nerike," says the President M. af Robson, " the same diffi- 

 culty occurred as is common in other places namely, that of 

 getting ducks to incubate all the eggs they lay. In the 

 present instance the supernumerary duck eggs were placed, 

 together with several hen's eggs, under a white hen, and 

 in due time a single duckling a male as it proved was 

 produced. He was reared in the poultry-yard, and in all 

 amity with his foster-brothers and sisters, and never at- 

 tempted to accompany the other ducklings of which there 

 was more than one brood that several times a day descended 

 the hill to the lake beneath but remained contentedly with 

 the hens. He grew rapidly, became fat, and at length ready 

 to fly. For the fun of the thing, he was often thrown into the 

 lake ; but at such times he always made the best of his way 

 to land, quacking loudly in the while, as if he had an aver- 

 sion to the water, and forthwith waddled back again to look 



