174 DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



North America is or was particularly rich in species 

 of birds belonging to the Order Anatidae, and once was richly 

 stocked with individuals. Even yet a very interesting rem- 

 nant remains. Of the whole assemblage of species, great, 

 medium and small, I think the MALLARD DucK 1 is the high- 

 est type, and the best average. It is one of the largest ducks; 

 it is one of the handsomest; it is strong on the wing, and 

 highly intelligent. It is a joy unto the sportsman who finds 

 it in its haunts, and a delight to the epicure who finds it upon 

 the bill of fare. Sluggish indeed must be the pulse w^hich 

 does not beat faster at the sight of a flock of wild Mallards, 

 free in its haunts, and ready to leap into the air and speed 

 away at the slightest alarm. 



The Mallard is recognizable by its large size, and the 

 brilliant metallic-green head and neck and pearl-gray body 

 of the male. The female is a very different-looking bird, of a 

 modest brown color, streaked with black. There is only one 

 thing at all annoying about this bird, and that is its close 

 resemblance to our domestic duck; but for this there is a very 

 good reason. It is the wild ancestor of all our domestic 

 ducks, save one or two varieties. 



The Mallard is found throughout the temperate zone in 

 both the Old World and the New, and therefore it is known 

 by many names. In England it is called the Stock Duck, be- 

 cause it was the original stock from which the domestic duck 

 has descended. In North America its range covers prac- 

 tically the whole continent down to Panama, and in Asia it 

 reaches to India. It breeds persistently throughout the 



1 An'as bos'chas. Average length, 22 inches. 



