10 WILD DUCK. 



built on the top of a precipitous rock, and Audubon one in 

 the middle of some corn, a mile from any water. 



The greater number of these birds go north to breed, but 

 not a few remain here and there throughout the country all 

 the year, and build. 



The eggs are usually eleven in number; sometimes ten, and 

 sometimes twelve; and as many as fifteen are said to have 

 been found in one nest; Montagu says even eighteen. They 

 are smooth and of a very pale green colour, and of an 

 obtuse shape. 



The old birds are supposed to remain in pairs throughout 

 the year, but the male leaves the female as soon as she 

 begins to sit. The hen frequently covers the eggs with down 

 or other substances if she leaves the nest for a time. 



The young Ducks, or Flappers, are unable to fly until eight 

 or ten weeks old. They choose their partners before leaving 

 for the north the following year. 



Male; weight, about two pounds and a half from thirty- 

 six to forty ounces. One was shot in March, 1855, on the 

 Bassenthwaite lake, near Bowness, in Cumberland, which 

 weighed three pounds and three quarters. Length, two feet 

 two inches. The specimen just mentioned, measured two feet 

 three inches in length. Bill, yellowish green; iris, dark brown. 

 Head, crown, and neck on the upper part, rich dark metallic 

 glossy green this is succeeded by a narrow ring of white 

 the neck on the back lower down, and the nape, greyish 

 chesnut brown; the remainder of the lower part of the neck, 

 rich dark chesnut; in winter each feather has an edging of 

 white; breast above, deep chesnut, with a vinous or deep 

 purple tint; below greyish white, with a tinge of dull yellowish, 

 and on the sides elegantly marked with delicate grey lines; 

 back above, greyish chesnut brown, becoming darker on the 

 lower parts, the feathers edged with the former colour; below, 

 velvet black, with a reflection of blue or green. 



The wings extend to the width of nearly three feet, and 

 have the second quill feather the longest. Greater wing 

 coverts, with a bar of white near the end, the tips velvet 

 black; lesser wing coverts, greyish brown, with a tinge of 

 yellowish brown; primaries, dusky greyish brown; secondaries, 

 greyish brown on the inner webs, the speculum, formed of 

 the outer portion of the outer webs, rich shining purple, 

 passing into, and margined by, a bar of velvet black, and 



