226 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



chiefly vegetable matter and the seeds of aquatic 

 plants. On the coast the diet is varied with small 

 univalve shell fish. It is excellent eating. 



A remarkable instance of affection in a bird of 

 this species came under my observation in the winter 

 of 1863-64. A sportsman, returning home late one 

 evening, surprised a pair of ducks in an old gravel- 

 pit, now half full of water. As they rose he killed 

 the duck with the only charge he had left, dropping 

 her in the middle of the water. Before he could 

 get her out, he observed that the drake, which had 

 flown to a considerable distance, finding himself 

 alone, returned to the spot, and, notwithstanding 

 that his enemy was still moving on the bank, after 

 making one or two circles in the air, alighted on the 

 water close to the dead body of his mate. Swimming 

 round and round her, from time to time he uttered 

 a mournful note, and appeared very unwilling to 

 leave the spot. Instead of pitying the distress of 

 the poor mallard, and regretting the loss he had 

 occasioned, the sportsman, I am sorry to add, has- 

 tened home, the distance of nearly a mile, and pro- 

 curing some more powder and shot, returned and 

 killed the faithful bird, which still remained upon 

 the water near its mate. I saw the pair shortly 

 afterwards ; they were the Pintail Duck, in re- 

 markably good plumage. 



WILD DUCK, Anas boschas. Of the Wild Ducks 

 which are observed here during the year, by far the 



