THE MALLARD. 135 



the neck with black, and on the other parts with a preva- 

 lence of brown. This bird is pretty commonly domesti- 

 cated. It came originally from Brazil, and derives its 

 name from a musky odour, which it exhales. The flesh 

 is thought good, and is more abundant than on the com- 

 mon Duck. The bird is hardy. 



THE MALLARD, OR WILD DUCK, 



Is nearly two feet in length. The plumage of this bird 

 is beautifully varied with glossy, changeable green, pure 

 white, finely barred with brown, black, chesnut, and brown ; 

 on the converts is a fine spot of lucid violet-green. The 

 female is very plain, of a pale reddish brown colour, 

 spotted with black. It is of migratory habits, but not 

 universally so, and inhabits the tropical and temperate 

 zones. Great numbers are caught in decoys, in the marshes 

 of Lincolnshire. The Wild Duck breeds in the spring, 

 and lays from ten to sixteen eggs : the young go into the 

 water as soon as they are hatched. The parents use consi- 

 derable art to preserve their young, and seldom build close 

 to the water. They are much esteemed for the table, and 

 are caught by various means. Sometimes the sportsman 

 attracts them within gunshot, by exhibiting tame ducks 

 confined in wicker cages ; sometimes they are caught 

 while swimming by hooks, baited with sheep's lights. A 

 very curious method prevails in the East: a man, having 

 covered his head with a calabash, wades into the wftter as 

 far as his chin, and approaches a party of ducks ; these 

 being accustomed to see the calabashes float down the 

 rivers, are not alarmed, and suffer themselves to be dragged 

 under the water by the legs, an easy prey to their disguised 

 enemy. On the river Ganges the natives substitute to the 

 calabash one of the earthen pots in which they boil their 

 rice, and which they never use a second time, considering 

 them then as defiled. Ducks are very much used among 

 the Chinese, who hatch them chiefly by artificial heat. 

 The young are at first fed, and then consigned to the care 

 of an old duck, and placed on a raft in the river, from which 

 they come to feed, and return at command. 



