474 



6 



flushed when passing through the marshy, rush-overgrown lowlands during the day-time, they 

 appeared to be then resting, and not feeding. However, so soon as the early evening began to 

 close in, for in the high north the days begin to shorten quite early in the autumn, the Mallard 

 began to move about ; and Dresser has often shot them by laying in wait at some suitable place 

 when scarcely light enough to distinguish them. They generally frequented the small freshwater 

 streams close to the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, the waters of which latter are nearly fresh, and 

 are frequented by this species almost as much as the inland lakes and ponds. In the spring it is 

 the earliest species to arrive ; and their eggs are the first of any of the waterfowl that are found. 

 When travelling northwards in the early spring Dresser often shot them on the small ponds near 

 the road in the wilder parts of the country. 



Macgillivray, writing on its habits in Scotland, says that " in winter, it for the most part 

 removes from the higher grounds to the hollows and level tracts, and in frosty weather betakes 

 itself to the shores of estuaries and even of the open sea. In the Cromarty and Beauley Firths 

 great numbers occur along the shores during the winter and spring, and at night especially 

 frequent the muddy parts, where they feed on worms and mollusca. Around Edinburgh are 

 numerous open ditches, and some brooks, to which they resort at night, from October to April, 

 when they may be started in great numbers by a person searching their haunts by moonlight. 

 A friend of mine has often shot them on such occasions ; and I have myself seen them thus 

 engaged. It being by touch more than by sight that the Mallard obtains its food, the night 

 appears to be as favourable for this purpose as the day, and is chiefly used in populous districts, 

 while in the wilder parts it feeds at least as much by day. Marshy places, the margins of lakes, 

 pools, and rivers, as well as brooks, rills, and ditches, are its principal places of resort at all 

 seasons. It walks with ease, even runs with considerable speed, swims, and on occasion dives, 

 although not in search of food. Seeds of graminese and other plants, fleshy and fibrous roots, 

 worms, mollusca, insects, small reptiles, and fishes are the principal objects of its search. In 

 shallow water it reaches the bottom with its bill, keeping the hind part of the body erect by a 

 continued motion of the feet. On the water it sits rather lightly, with the tail considerably 

 inclined upwards; when searching under the surface it keeps the tail flat on the water; and 

 when puddling at the bottom with its hind part up, it directs the tail backward. The male emits 

 a low and rather soft cry, between a croak and a murmur, and the female a louder and clearer 

 jabber. Both on being alarmed, and especially in flying off, quack ; but the quack of the 

 female is much louder. When feeding they are silent ; but when satiated they often amuse 

 themselves with various jabberings, swim about, approach each other, move their heads back- 

 ward and forward, ' duck ' in the water, throwing it up over their backs, shoot along its surface, 

 half-flying, half-running, and, in short, are quite playful when in good humour. On being 

 surprised or alarmed, whether on shore or on the water, they spring up at once with a bound, 

 rise obliquely to a considerable height, and fly off with speed, their hard-quilled wings whistling 

 against the air. When in full flight, the velocity is very great, being probably a hundred miles 

 in the hour. Like other Ducks they impel themselves by quickly repeated flaps, without sailings 

 or undulations. In March they pair, and soon after disperse and select a breeding-place. The 

 nest, bulky and rudely constructed of flags, sedges, grasses, and other plants, is placed on the 

 ground in the midst of a marsh, or among reeds or rushes, sometimes in a meadow, or even 



