THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



seems to prefer shallow waters, where it can paddle about 

 and search the mud and vegetation near the bank. It 

 never dives, but often turns almost perpendicular, with 

 little more than its tail above the surface, and with rapidly 

 moving legs and feet to preserve its position searches the 

 bottom for food. It swims well too, and flies with great 

 speed and strength, the wings beating rapidly with a 

 whistling noise, or sometimes held arched and rigid as the 

 bird skims along for some distance. I have said that it 

 never dives, in the ordinary acceptance of the term, but it 

 may often be seen flying under the water with a great 

 splashing in chase of its mate or companions in a sort of 

 frolic. It is wary enough in a wild state, and most diffi- 

 cult to approach, suspicious of everything. In the vicinity 

 of London it is generally met with in pairs here and there, 

 but in winter it often assembles into large flocks, which in 

 some cases consort with other species. It is almost an 

 omnivorous bird, feeding on vegetable substances, grain of 

 all kinds, and its animal diet may be said to range from 

 an insect to a fish. It is a gluttonous eater, and often 

 traverses long distances in quest of food, which is mostly 

 sought during night-time. The familiar quack of this 

 Duck needs no description, but the bird also utters many 

 other sounds which I find it impossible to express in 

 writing. The Mallard breeds early, the eggs being laid 

 in March or April. The bird pairs for life, and the nest 

 is generally made on the ground in some quiet spot, very 

 often far from water, amongst grain, bracken, or heath. 

 Sometimes it is made in a hole in a tree, amongst ivy as I 

 once knew in Hyde Park or even in the old nest of a 

 Rook or a Crow. When on the ground it is a mere 

 hollow lined with fern-fronds, bits of heath, and dry grass, 

 but as the eggs are deposited a warm, thick bed of down is 

 added. The eggs, from eight to sixteen, are buffish green 

 or greenish buff. The drake takes no share in rearing the 

 brood, nor is he ever seen near the nest. The young are 



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