io8 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



Canon Tristram obtained its nest in a similar situation in Palestine ;. and Dybowsky 

 took the eggs out of the deserted nests of birds of prey. 



In a paper on "British Fossil Birds," by Mr. R. Lydekker, published in 

 " The Ibis," 1891, p. 390, the author says :— " Coming to the Ducks, or Anatina, 

 we have first to notice the occurrence of a species of Tadorna in the Pleistocene of 

 Brixham cave, near Torquay, as exemplified by a large series of specimens in the 

 British Museum. These bones indicate a bird of somewhat larger size than the 

 Ruddy Sheldrake, T. casarca. One of these specimens shews the great develop- 

 ment of the keel of the sternum, and the square shape of the pneumatic foramen 

 leading into this keel, by which Tadorna may be distinguished from Anas^ 



Family— AN AVID. E. 



Mallard, or Wild Duck. 



A7ias boscas, LiNN. 



THE range of the Common Wild Duck may be said to be world-wide, covering 

 the whole of the northern hemisphere, breeding in the temperate and sub- 

 arctic regions of two continents, but exceptionally so beyond the Arctic circle. In 

 the winter it goes as far south as almost to touch the equator. The range also 

 extends across the whole temperate portion of North America. Great numbers 

 nest in the British Islands, their numbers being greatly augmented in the later 

 autumn by vast flocks from the Continent. The word Mallard as applied to the 

 male of this species, is the French Jllalart, Italian Mallardo, and refers to the 

 drake of this and the domestic bird. The female is simply the Duck, Canard in 

 French, but in the eastern counties, and generally in our islands, " Mallard " is 

 used indiscriminately to express both male and female. The young are called 

 "flappers." The specific name has h&exi written boschas irora. the beginning (1758), 



