DUCK AND MALLARD. 29 



to fowlers and dealers, that sixpence is added to 

 the price of what are termed the large mallards, 

 this extra amount being expected and given by 

 buyer and seller respectively. 



Though Wild Ducks often nest in the large lakes 

 they rest on till late in the spring, they prefer woods 

 and mountains for that purpose near at hand, bring- 

 ing their young broods to the water by night. On 

 small pieces of private water, well guarded, they 

 know their safety, and usually nest on the spot. I 

 have twice found a Wild Duck's nest in a hollow 

 tree overhanging a stream. For two consecutive 

 years a Duck built her nest in some ivy at the top 

 of an old church on Holy Island, Lough Derg 

 (Upper Shannon), some thirty feet from the ground. 

 The first time she carried the little ones safe to the 

 water. The second time her eggs were robbed by 

 boys searching for jackdaws' nests, and were brought 

 to me, alas ! as a prize. 



Mr. Blacken, gamekeeper on Lord Shannon's 

 estate (Castle Martyr, co. Cork), told me he found 

 a few years since a Wild Duck's nest in the fork of 

 a large Scotch fir, thirty feet above the ground, with 

 eleven eggs in it. She hatched all out safely, and 

 took them down by night ; how, my informant says, 

 he has often wondered. 



Duck and mallard, among their tribe, are the 

 slowest to take wing. They will at times stand on 

 the edge of a bank, with necks craned, for half a 

 minute ere flying, and give the fowler a good chance 

 of creeping many yards nearer in shot. Should 

 you, when looking after Duck on land, see fowl 

 alight or swimming, never, if you can avoid it, creep 



