264 



NA TA TORES. 



ANATIDJL 



AN AT ID X\ 



THE WILD DUCK. 



A nas boschas, The Mallard, 

 Wild Duck, 



Anas boschas. 



PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 258. 

 MONTAGU, Ornith. Diet. 

 BEWICK, Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 342. 



Common FLEM. Brit. An. p. 123. 



Wild SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 305. 



TJie Mallard, JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 233. 



Common Wild Duck, GOULD, Birds of Europe, pt. xvi. 



TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. ii p. 835. 



FEOM the evidence of Pennant and others it appears cer- 

 tain that the Wild Duck was formerly much more nume- 

 rous in the British Islands than it is at present. To the 

 progress of draining, and the consequent extension of agri- 

 culture this change may be greatly attributed, and though 

 a few pairs of this handsome and valuable species may still 



