202 The Water-fowl Family 



they do not differ materially in size from either 

 species. The mallard is by far the commonest 

 duck to interbreed, possibly owing to its wide- 

 spread distribution ; and next to the cross between 

 mallard and black duck we find several instances 

 of a hybrid between mallard and muscovy — 

 specimens of which are likewise described under 

 " mallard." The muscovy duck in North America 

 is a tropical and subtropical species, seldom, if 

 ever, coming into the United States. The hy- 

 brids therefore are probably those of the wild 

 mallard with the domestic muscovy. Mallard 

 and pintail are also responsible for hybrids, and 

 there are several striking instances of this cross. 

 Several years since in October a number of mal- 

 lard and pintail hybrids were killed at the Long 

 Point Club, evidently all members of the same 

 brood. Specimens of a cross between mallard and 

 gadwall and mallard with widgeon are recorded, 

 and an interesting instance of a pintail and teal 

 hybrid as well as a red-head and wood duck. The 

 hybrid is supposed to be larger than either parent, 

 a rule which is more noticeable the more dissimilar 

 the species. There was at one time a specimen 

 in the collection at Princeton of a supposed hy- 

 brid between mallard and brant which was con- 

 siderably larger than a brant, and as ungainly as 

 might be supposed. Another class of ducks in- 

 timately associated in their breeding-grounds are 



