424 MALLARD. 
Dusky Duck, Axas obscura, both sexes of which much resemble the 
female of our bird. 
Incubation often begins in the second half of March in the 
south of England, and a little later even on the bleak moors of 
Northumberland. The nest, made of grass and lined with down, is 
usually on the ground near fresh-water, though not infrequently 
at a distance from it ; but grain-fields, hedge-rows, stacks of faggots, 
forks or hollows of trees, and even the deserted nests of other birds 
are more or less utilized. The 8-12 eggs are pale greyish-green 
or greenish-buff: measurements 2°25 by 1°6in. Two months or 
ten weeks elapse before the young can fly. In the wild state the 
Mallard is partially monogamous, but the domestic forms which have 
sprung from it are all polygamous; and, as remarked by the late 
Mr. C. M. Adamson, the half-wild breeds get duller in colour, and 
have coarser feet, while the wings—which in a wild bird reach nearly 
to the end of the tail—become shorter in proportion to the body. 
The Mallard is almost omnivorous and strictly a night-feeder. 
The male in full plumage has the bill yellowish-green ; head and 
neck glossy-green, followed by a narrow white ring; hind-neck and 
breast dark chestnut; across the secondaries a greenish-purple 
wing-spot, fringed above and below with white ; rump bluish-black, 
the four central upper tail-coverts black and up-curled, the rest 
greyish ; belly and flanks greyish-white ; under tail-coverts velvet- 
black ; legs, toes and webs orange-red. Jength 23 in. ; wing 11 in. 
Towards the end of May the male begins to assume a brown plumage 
similar to that of the female, but not identical with it, while the bill 
retains its yellowish tint ; the quills are cast simultaneously, so that 
the bird is incapable of flight ; but by the middle of October he has 
again acquired his full dress. Very old drakes—in semi-captivity at 
least—lose the white collar, and half-bred birds often do not show 
itat all. The female is smaller, and has an olive-green bill and dark 
brown crown, general plumage mottled-brown and buff, alar speculum 
dark green; the drake’s plumage is occasionally assumed. The 
young at first resemble the female. In a wild state the Mallard not 
infrequently breeds with the Pintail, and in captivity with almost 
any Duck ; varieties are not uncommon, but albinoes are rare. 
Technically the word “ Mallard” may be applicable only to the 
drake, but, on the other hand, “ Wild Duck” is vague, and I agree 
with American ornithologists in employing “Mallard” for this 
species, and thereby avoiding ambiguity. 
