1 98 A NATURE. 



On the authority of James M'Cullogh, Esq., a gentleman 

 who has had frequent opportunities of observing these birds 

 along the sand-hills of the Murroughof Wicklow, where they 

 breed in considerable numbers, we are informed that the 

 shelldrake never ventures to leave its burrow except at early 

 dawn or twilight, when it may be observed skimming close to 

 the sands on its way to feed, after the receding tide ; and that 

 he has never heard their peculiar whistle until the young 

 are hatched, when it is made use of in alarming and directing 

 them from danger. Its most common name here, and also 

 upon the Dublin coast and markets, is bardrake, perhaps a 

 corruption of the more probable name, burrow drake. 



On one occasion we observed the shelldrake in its wild 

 state a flock of nine birds floating on the water between 

 Howth and Kingstown, a place where subsequently a single 

 bird was observed swimming during unusually heavy rain by 

 Joshua Lamprey, Esq. 



Indigenous. 



GENUS XCV. ANAS (DUCK). 



SPECIES 190 THE MALLARD. 



Anas boschas. Linn. 



Canard sauvage. Temm. 



Wild Duck. 



OF nearly equal interest to the ornithologist, the mallard is 

 another of our indigenous ducks ; and although its numbers 

 are considerably augmented during winter, by the arrival of 

 flocks from their northern resorts, yet it cannot be doubted, 

 if sufficient accommodation for their nidification were ob- 

 tainable, the mallard would be yet more common in our island 

 during summer. 



Possessing additional interest from the fact of its being the 

 original from which our domestic duck is derived, the mallard 

 is a common species, and although not occurring in such 

 numbers as the widgeon and pochards, yet it is a widely-spread 

 species, and at all times commands the highest price for the 

 acknowledged delicacy of the flesh, its average value being 

 from four to five shillings a pair. 



More abundant in England at a former time, no less than 

 4000 mallard appeared at Archbishop Neville's feast, where 

 they were valued at twopence each, about half the value 

 affixed in those days to the teal. 



