CHAPTER VI 



THE WILD DUCK 



THE mallard is one of the very few birds in- 

 digenous to England, or naturalised therein, 

 which have a bright and brilliant colouring. When 

 you have mentioned the kingfisher, the green 

 woodpecker, the cock pheasant, the goldfinch, 

 and the golden oriole, which last is a rare and 

 occasional visitant, you have named almost all 

 the birds which challenge marked attention in 

 this respect. Who but the blind, physically or 

 morally, can fail to notice, and if he notice, can fail 

 to admire, the glossy, metallic green of the mallard's 

 neck, the collar of white that comes next below, 

 the deep chocolate-red of his breast, the chestnut- 

 brown of his mantle, his bright orange legs and 

 feet, above all, the four middle feathers of his tail 

 which curve and curl so gracefully upward, and are 



