( 300 ) 



lower part of the neck and breast reddish-brown, approaching to 

 chocolate ; fore part of the back light brown, rest of the back 

 darker; rump black; upper tail coverts greenish-black; upper 

 parts of the wings brown, intermixed with gray; breast, sides, 

 flanks, and abdomen, gray, transversely barred with dusky ; bill 

 greenish-yellow; feet reddish-orange ; tail rounded, consisting of 

 sixteen pointed feathers, nearly white; speculum violet. Length 

 two feet, wing eleven inches. 



Female smaller than the male ; speculum less brilliant ; general 

 plumage brown ; head and neck streaked with dusky ; the feathers on 

 the back and flanks margined with white, with a central spot of 

 brown on the outer webs ; bill black, changing to orange at the 

 extremity. 



The Mallard is universally known as the origin of the common 

 Domestic Duck. In its wild state, it is inferior in size to these fed 

 by the hand of man, but far excels in beauty. To those unac- 

 quainted with the distinguishing marks of the wild and domestic 

 birds, 1 will here point out a single feature which may always be 

 depended upon — he feet of the former, from being constantly in 

 t 'le water, or on swampy grounds, are soft and pliable, while those 

 of the latter, from walking over the gravel, become hard and much 

 broader. Though not a frequent visiter on the sea coast, occasion- 

 a' y a pair, or more generally a single individual, is seen passing 

 over our wide bays, as if tired of its solitary journey ; it unites with 

 others of its tribe, when the keen eye of the calculating gunner rea- 

 dily singles it out from the Dusky Ducks. 



Like all other species, the Mallard takes its abode where the choice 

 of food is most readily obtained. It is met with in various parts of 

 the United States, as well as in Europe, giving preference to the 

 fresh water streams, lakes and ponds, where it feeds sumptuously on 

 a variety of nutritious plants, as in general the fine condition of its 

 body testifies. 



Like the Dusky Duck, when pursued by the sportsman, it becomes 

 shy, and feeds at night, dozing away the day out of gun-shot from 

 the shore. 



Early in the month of July, 1837, while hunting over the mea- 

 dows for smaller game, I came upon a pair of Mallard Ducks, mo- 



