THE MALLAUD. 197 



and flock together, and are both subject to the 

 double annual moulting ; of which more anon. The 

 domesticated duck only loses its inclination for 

 flying, when it is bred and reared far from any large 

 sheet of water ; but where an extent of water is at 

 hand, this bird will be observed to assume more 

 brisk and active habits. It will indulge in long and 

 lofty flights, and frequently take off with the con- 

 gregated wild-fowl in their nocturnal excursions. 



I have the finest possible opportunity of looking 

 into the habits of the mallard at any hour of the 

 day, from the rising to the setting sun ; for here 

 this bird, and large flocks of its congeners, are per- 

 petual visitors during the winter months. They 

 fear no danger ; and they seem to know that in this 

 populous neighbourhood there is one retreat left to 

 which they can retire, and in which they can find 

 a shelter from the persecutions which are poured 

 down so thick upon them in other places, by man, 

 their ever watchful and insatiate pursuer. 



Some six years ago, I put a number of wild ducks' 

 eggs to be hatched by a domestic duck. The pro- 

 duce of these eggs having intermixed with the 

 common barn-door breed of ducks, there has been 

 produced by this union such an endless variety of 

 colouring, that it is now impossible to trace the 

 identical origin of the birds with any degree of cer- 

 tainty. Half wild, half tame, they will come to the 

 windows to be fed ; but still they have a wariness 

 about them quite remarkable ; and they will often 

 startle and take wing at very trivial causes of alarm. 

 In this group the naturalist may see the milk-white 

 o 3 



