330 NATATORES. 



THE COMMON WILD DUCK (Anas loscJias). 



The common wild duck is so abundant in all the fenny 

 parts of the country, that it hardly needs any description. 

 In the breeding season they are dispersed over the interior, 

 almost to the greatest height, on the inland pools and streams 

 that can afford them cover. At that time, though their cries 

 are often heard, especially in the evenings before rain, they 

 are not much seen ; but when the cold weather sets in, they 

 flock towards the shores and estuaries in vast numbers. One 

 of the most conspicuous characters of these birds, is the four 

 middle tail feathers of the male or mallard, curved upward ; 

 and they retain that character in a domesticated state, how- 

 ever much difference of food or treatment may alter their 

 size and the tints of their plumage. They are the parent 

 race of all the common tame ducks ; and they often claim 

 kindred, visiting, on their migrations, tame ducks that live 

 remote from houses, and sometimes enticing these off to the 

 fens, or to a considerable distance on the rivers. 



The length of the male (the drake or mallard) is about 

 twenty-five inches, the extent of the wings nearly three feet, 

 and the weight about two pounds and a half. The bill is 

 greenish yellow, the irides hazel, the feet reddish orange. 

 Head and neck deep glossy green, bordered with a white 

 collar. The lower part of the neck, the breast, and the 

 shoulders, purplish brown. Scapulars silver white and rust 

 colour, delicately pencilled with waving lines of brown, 

 coverts of the wings ash, tipped with white and black, quills 

 dusky black ; wing spot on the secondaries rich purple, with 

 blue and green reflections. Lower part of the back, rump, 

 tail-coverts, and curled feathers of the tail, black, with green 

 reflections on the rump, and purple on the tail ; the other 

 feathers of the tail dusky brown, fading into dull white at 

 the edges. The under part from the breast whitish grey, 



