WILD DUCK. NAT A TORES. ANAS. 305 



COMMON WILD DUCK, 



ANAS BOSCHAS, Linn. 

 PLATES L. & L -. MALE AND FEMALE. 



Anas Boschas, Linn. Syst. 1. 205. 40 Gmel. Syst. 1. 538 Lath. Ind. 



Orn. 2. 850. sp. 49 Wils. Amer. Orn. 8. 121. pi. 70. f. 1. Shaw's Zool. 

 12. 84 Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 123. sp. 187. 

 Anas fera, Briss. Orn. 6. 318. 4. 

 Le Canard sauvage, Buff. Ois. 9. 115. t. 7- & 8 Temm. Man. d'Ornith. 2. 



835. 



Le Canard ordinaire, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1. 537. 

 Gemeine Ente, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 1046 Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 



2. 538. 

 Wild Duck, or MaUard, Perm, Br. Zool. 2. 591. No. 279. A ret. Zool. 2. 



494 Lath. Syn. 6. 489 Id. Sup. 2. 351 Id. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 4. 



112. pi. 13. f. 10. (Trachea.) Albinos Birds, 2. pi. 10. Lewin's Br. Birds, 



7- pi. 240 Mont. Ornith. Diet, and Sup Bewick's Br. Birds, ed. 1826, 



2. p. t. 325 Shaw's Zool. 12. 84. 



Var. a. Anas domestica, Linn. Syst. 1. 206. 40. B Rail Syn. 150. 1. 



Boschas major, Briss. Orn. 6. 326. A. 



Tame Duck, Albin's Birds, 2. pi. 99. Lath. Syn. 6. 494. Bewick's Br. 



Birds, ed. 1826. pi. t. 334. 



Var. /3. Anas adunca, Linn. Syst. 1. 206 Gmel. Syst. 1. 528. 

 Anas rostro incurvo, Briss. Orn. 6. 311 Raii Syn. 150. 2 Will. 180. 

 Hook-billed Duck, Alton's Birds, 2. t. 96. 97 Will. (Angl.) 381. t. 75 



Lath. Syn. 6. 497. D Bewick's Br. Birds, 2. ed. 1826, p. 338. 



AMONGST the various species of the present beautiful sub- 

 family of the Anatidce, few display a more chaste and deli- 

 cately pencilled plumage than the Mallard in his matured 

 state. This, however, is very apt to escape the degree of 

 attention it deserves, from our becoming so much accustom- 

 ed to the appearance of his domesticated brethren; who, 

 though frequently retaining all the colours and distinctive 

 markings of the original stock, cannot, with their dull and 

 heavy appearance, compensate for the sprightly look and 

 graceful form that will strike the closer observer as distinc- 

 tive of this bird in a state of nature. This is an indigenous 

 species, and, although banished by the advance of agricul- 

 ture from vast tracts of country that formerly provided it 

 with suitable breeding retreats, still inhabits the shores of 



VOL. II. U 



