THE WILD DUCK 319- 



is often more like hunting water-rats than shooting 

 birds. They haunt deep and retired parts of a brook, 

 or stream, in families. Flappers are only called Wild 

 Ducks when they take wing. 



In the Fens formerly, until put a stop to by Act of 

 Parliament, not only were Flappers shot as they are 

 now, but an annual driving of the young birds before 

 they could fly took place. A vast tract was beaten, and 

 the birds were forced into a net placed where the sport 

 was to terminate. A hundred and fifty dozens have 

 been taken at once in this fashion. If our handsome 

 British Wild Duck is to be preserved to us, further steps 

 must now be taken to enforce and extend the close time- 

 for our home-bred birds of this species. 



Both duck and drake are the size of the domestic duck, 

 which is a near relation of its wild congener. It is the 

 loudest cackler of the ponds. The drake has splendid 

 plumage. The whole of the head has a fine green 

 metallic lustre, this being separated from the rest of the 

 colouring by a white band round the neck. A small 

 bunch of feathers, curled upwards, stands on the rump, 

 which is smooth black, as is also the under tail cover. 

 It has a beautiful, lustrous violet patch bordered on each 

 side with white, on its wings. Neck and breast are- 

 chestnut-brown ; the mantle finely and beautifully 

 spotted. The underparts light grey, each feather 

 having fine dark stripes. Bill greenish; legs orange. 

 The female bird is yellowish-brown speckled with dark 

 brown. 



