MALLARD or WILD DUCK. 



ANAS BOSCHAS, Linn. 



Anas boschas^ Linn. S. N. i. p. 205 (1766) ; Naum. xi. p. 575 ; 

 Macg. V. p. 31; Hewitson, ii. p. 407; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. 

 p. 358; Dresser, vi. p. 469. 



Canard sauvage, French ; Stockente, German ; Pato real, 

 Spanish. 



This is a species of which it would be difficult to 

 write anything that is not already perfectly well known, 

 so I will content myself with stating that our Common 

 Wild Duck is found in almost all parts of Europe, 

 Asia, N. Africa, and N. America at various seasons, and 

 breeds in every county of England, Wales, Scotland, 

 and Ireland. 



Many modern authors have dropped the " h " from 

 the specific Latin designation of this species ; bui, 

 admitting this alteration to be perhaps classically 

 correct, I am quite content in this instance to err with 

 Linnaeus. 



