MALLARD 
25 
Association with other Species. In eastern North America the Mallard is 
commonly seen with the Black Duck during the winter months, and it associates 
less freely with Widgeon, Pintail and Teal, in fact with all other surface-feeding 
ducks. In the Old World its habits are similar, but Naumann (1896-1905) says it 
will not associate with geese, though it gets along well with swans. In the Ussuri 
region of eastern Siberia the Mallard w'as found chiefly with Pintail, Falcated Teal 
and Formosan Teal (Taczanowski, 1893), while at other times Teal were seen leading 
flocks of Mallards (Dbrries, 1888). A few Mallard nests have been found which con- 
tained eggs of other species, but such instances are far less common than among 
diving ducks. Mallard and Teal eggs were found in the same nest in northeastern 
Montana (Willett, 1906), and in England a Mallard is known to have laid its 
eggs in a nest already occupied by a Coot (Baker, 1908). A nest mentioned by 
Thienemann (1903) contained eggs of both Mallard and Pochard. Another nest has 
been described in a tree containing nests of the Hooded Crow and the Great Reed 
Warbler (Lintia, 1909). Jardine (in A. Wilson, 1832) states that he once took a Wild 
Duck’s nest on a knoll of heather which was within ten yards of the nest of a Pere- 
grine Falcon, so that the tenants could not help seeing each other in passing to and 
from their nests. Wiistnei (1900) found some Mallards nesting with a colony of one 
hundred and fifty gulls, and von Mojsisovics (1886) met with others nesting in close 
proximity to a heron colony. In the British Isles a nest was found containing one 
Mallard’s egg, eight Teal’s eggs and various pheasants’ eggs (W. G. Clarke, 1897). 
Barfod (Mitth. Naturwiss. Ver. Steiermark) tells of a Mallard nesting with a Marsh 
Hawk {Circus ceruginosus) in Denmark. Mallard’s eggs have also been found in nests 
of the Bean Goose (Hodek, Schwalbe, 1876). The most remarkable duck’s nest that 
I ever heard of was found in 1921 by Mr. A. Wolfe, of Edmonton, Alberta, who wrote 
me about it. In this nest four species of ducks had deposited eggs. Five eggs were 
Mallard’s, four Shoveller’s, five Red-head’s, and two Canvas-back’s. A Mallard was 
incubating. 
Voice. Every one is familiar with the note of the Domestic Duck, which varies 
considerably with different breeds, but the note of wild birds is finer, higher pitched 
and less coarse. The male cannot quack, but has a low reed-like weeb which, in spite 
of its being low, can be heard for several hundred yards on a clear still day. The 
high-pitched quacking note of the female, which varies greatly in different individ- 
uals, sometimes low, and sometimes very high, complaining and shrill, can be heard 
a great distance over the water, certainly for more than a mile if conditions are fa- 
vorable. These quacking notes are often linked together into a prolonged call, and 
this is regarded by Heinroth (1911) as the note of attraction used during the winter 
and breeding season. The single drawn-out quack is an expression of fear, and this 
is heard also very commonly when the female is leading her young. A still lower 
