Wivp Duck. NATATORES. ANAS. 305 
COMMON WILD DUCK. 
Anas Boscras, Linn. 
PLATES L. & L*. Mare anp FEMALE. 
Anas Boschas, Linn. Syst. 1. 205. 40.—Gmel. Syst. 1. 538.—Lath. Ind. 
Orn. 2. 850. sp. 49.—Wils. Amer. Orn. 8. 121. pl. 70. f. 7.—Shaw’s Zool. 
12. 84._Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 123. sp. 187. 
Anas fera, Briss. Orn. 6. 318. 4. 
ee sauvage, Buff. Ois. 9. 115. t. 7. & 8.—Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 
Le Canard ordinaire, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1. 537. 
re Ente, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 1046.—Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 
. 538. 
Wild Duck, or Mallard, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 591. No. 279.—Arct. Zool. 2. 
494.—Lath. Syn. 6. 489.—Id. Sup. 2. 351.—Id. in Trans. Linn. Soe. 4. 
112. pl. 13. f. 10. (Trachea.)—Albin’s Birds, 2. pl. 10.—Lewin’s Br. Birds, 
7. pl. 240.—Mont. Ornith. Dict. and Sup.—Bewick’s Br. a 1826, 
2. p. t. 325.—Shaw’s Zool. 12. 84. 
Var. « Anas domestica, Linn. Syst. 1. 206. 40. B.—Raii Syn. 150. 1. 
Boschas major, Briss. Orn. 6. 326. A. f 
Tame Duck, Albin’s Birds, 2. pl. 99.—Lath. Syn. 6. 494.—Bewick’s Br. - 
Birds, ed. 1826. pl. t. 334. ; 
Var. g. Anas adunca, Linn. Syst. 1. 206.—Gmel. Syst. 1. 528. 
Anas rostro incurvo, Briss. Orn. 6. 311.—Raii Syn. 150. 2.— Will. 180. 
Hook-billed Duck, Albin’s Birds, 2. t. 96. 97.—Will. (Angl.) 381. t- 75.— 
Lath. Syn. 6. 497. D.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, 2. ed. 1826, p. 338. 
Amonecst the various species of thespresent beautiful sub- 
family of the Anatide, few display a more chaste and deli- 
cately pencilled plumage than the Mallard in his matured 
state. This, however, is very apt to escape the degree of 
attention it deserves, from our becoming so much accustom- 
ed to the appearance of his domesticated brethren; who, 
though frequently retaining all the colours and distinctive 
markings of the original stock, cannot, with their dull and 
heavy appearance, compensate for the sprightly look and 
graceful form that will strike the closer observer as distinc- 
tive of this bird in a state of nature. This is an indigenous 
species, and, although banished by the advance of agricul- 
ture from vast tracts of country that formerly provided it 
with suitable breeding retreats, still inhabits the shores of 
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