THE WILD DUCK. 79 



Mr. Selby, who gives a full and good account of the species 

 under consideration^ has remarked that, '' in a natural state, wild 

 ducks always pair, though in a state of domestication they are 

 observed to be polygamous. This pairing takes place towards 

 the end of February or beginning of March, and they continue 

 associated till the female begins to sit, when the male deserts her, 

 joining others of his own sex similarly situated ; so that it is 

 usual to see the mallards, after May, in small flocks by themselves" 

 (p. 307). Tliis subject has been touched on in Mc Skimmings 

 ' History of Carrickfergus.' It is there said of wild ducks : — 

 " Often shot during winter at Loughmorne ; and until a few 

 years ago some pairs bred in the most remote bogs of this parish. 

 Their eggs have been hatched under hens, and the young thus 

 domesticated ; but they have been observed to be always shy, and 

 easily alarmed on the least noise ; and in the spring, the drake 

 has been remarked to attach himself wholly to one duck for that 

 season." With respect to the " wild" habits of the young birds, 

 I may state that, although of correct general appHcation, it is not 

 universal. Large broods of young wild ducks, captured when 

 half grown, about Lough Neagh, have become quite tame ; and 

 until spring, when they were disposed of, remained, except when 

 taking occasional flights, with the domestic birds of their own 

 species about the house where they were fed. 



Adult birds of both sexes may occasionally be seen flocked 

 together in summer. On the 15th June, 1833, I remarked a 

 number of them so about Ram's Island, and the neighbour- 

 ing parts of Lough Neagh ; and on the 15tli May, 1834, 

 observed thirteen thus associated on the beach of this lake. On 

 the 21st June, 1832, I met with a small number of old birds of 

 both sexes together on an islet in Strangford Lough. Birds thus 

 seen had probably not bred. 



In winter the males sometimes keep together in immense 

 flocks. This was particularly remarked by Mr. Wm. Sinclaire 

 and myself in the month of January 1824, during severe frost with 

 much snow and sleet, when they came far up Belfast Bay, close 

 to Thomson's embankment. The water was literally covered with 



