MALLARD 
21 
carriage is more erect and the walk more waddling, while the whole bird has a 
coarser and heavier look, especially about the head and neck. The wild birds carry 
the body almost horizontally, as do Teals, Widgeons and other true ducks. The neck 
is carried well back on the body in a pronounced S-shaped curve. 
Swimming and Diving. The Mallard is as active on the water as any other true 
duck. The swimming position is horizontal, the stern carried lower than in Sheldrakes 
or geese. A characteristic habit of the species is the tipping-up in the water, a position 
in which food can be obtained to a depth of a foot and a half. WTiile feeding in this 
manner the body is kept in the perpendicular position by a movement of the feet. 
The Mallard is, of course, a surface, or shallow-water feeder and loses the habit of 
diving when about two-thirds grown. There are, however, numerous instances of 
adult Mallards diving for food, and when wounded, particularly when wing-broken, 
they can and will swim under water for long distances with only the head appearing 
above water between dives. Shallow, splashing dives are also practiced during play, 
this being seen at its best in young birds just reaching full plumage. They may then 
dive while swimming or from low altitudes during short flights, but they never re- 
main submerged for more than a few seconds. When pursued by raptorial birds, 
even adult Mallards will sometimes dive from the wing, but if on the water, they as- 
sume a crouching attitude, or submerge themselves as far as the neck. Millais ( 1902 ) 
has admirably pictured this last practice in his monograph on the surface-feeding 
ducks of the British Isles. The female is said to be more of an adept both at diving 
and at hiding when crippled (Payne-Gallwey, 1882 ), but I cannot say that I have 
ever noticed much difference. Of course her color makes the hen bird much more 
difficult to see. Another time when adults may practice diving is during the moult 
in summer. Francis Harper writes me that he saw a male in full eclipse in the Atha- 
basca region try to escape by diving. The bird was shot and proved to have shed its 
primaries. In diving when not wounded, the wings are often used, and I think they 
are also opened under water in play antics. Kelso ( 1913 ) thought that the wings 
were never used for propulsion under water but this cannot be the whole truth, and 
I am sure that very young birds spread the wing rudiments while diving. Dr. C. W. 
Townsend, who has paid particular attention to this point, says that, as far as he 
knows. Black Ducks (and this of course means Mallards too) resort to the primitive 
method of “scrambling” with their wings and feet when under water. Semi-domes- 
tic Mallards develop diving habits more readily than wild ones, and they have been 
observed bringing food from the bottom in four or five feet of water. 
Perching. There are a few references to Mallards seen perching on trees. These 
are from central Europe, where it is not particularly rare to find them nesting in ele- 
vated situations. I myself have never seen them perching on anything higher than 
low rocks or submerged stumps. 
