Duck-shooting 75 



The mallard, of all our ducks, is the most liable 

 to hybridism; a few of the more interesting 

 hybrids, described in " Baird, Brewer, and Ridge- 

 way," are quoted here : — 



1. Hybrids with the muscovy duck. These 

 are produced in domestication; the offspring seems 

 to acquire the tendencies of the wild bird, and 

 escapes. It has the broad speculum and broad 

 tail of the muscovy without the recurved feathers 

 of the mallard. Head and upper half of neck 

 black with green reflections, white on throat and 

 under the eyes, breast and sides chestnut, rest of 

 lower parts white. Flanks slate, speculum green, 

 feet orange. Measurements: wing 13.20, culmen 

 2.30, tarsus 2.20. 



2. Hybrids with the pintail. No. 6668, Na- 

 tional Museum. This specimen in form and 

 coloration throughout is a perfect combination of 

 both species. The upper tail-coverts are purplish 

 black, the two middle tail feathers are elongated 

 half as much as in Dafila acuia, and curled half 

 as tightly as in Anas boschas. Bill, dark lead 

 color; feet, reddish; wing 11 inches, culmen 2.20, 

 tarsus 1.55. 



3. Hybrids with the black duck. The specimen 

 is an adult male. Sides and back of head brilliant 

 green, breast strongly tinged with chestnut, the 

 lateral, upper, and terminal lower tail-coverts are 

 black with violet reflections ; middle tail feathers 



