68 BIRDS OF ONT^IO. 



water. Like the other saw-bills, this species feeds on fish, on account 

 of which its flesh is not considered a delicacy. 



Such is the record for Southern Ontario, but a change of residence 

 and surroundings may bring about other changes. In the " Birds of 

 Manitoba," Macoun says regarding this bird: "Found in all the 

 smaller ponds and lakes, very common in streams around Porcupine 

 Mountain, feeding on vegetable substances, and quite edible, in this 

 respect unlike M. americanus." 



Subfamily ANATIN^. River Ducks. 



Genus ANAS Linn.eus. 



AISTAS BOSCHAS Linx. 



37. Mallard. (132) 



Male: — With the head and upper neck, glossy green, succeeded by a white 

 ring; breast, purplish-chestnut; tail feathers, mostly whitish; greater wing 

 coverts tipped with black and white, the speculum violet; feet, orange red. 

 Female: — With the wing as in the male; head, neck and under parts, pale 

 ochrey, speckled and streaked with dusky. Length, about 24; wing, 10-12. 



Hae. — Northern parts of northern hemisphere ; in America, south to Panama 

 and Cuba, breeding southward to the northern border of the United States. 



Nest, on the ground, built of dry grass, lined with feathers. 



Eggs, eight to ten, dull drab or olivaceous green. 



This, the parent of the domestic duck, is an abundant species and 

 widely distributed, but it is found in greatest numbers at certain 

 points, where its food abounds. In Hamilton Bay it occurs sparingly 

 during the migratory season, but at Rond Eau, at Long Point on 

 Lake Erie, and on the flats along the River St. Clair it assembles in 

 vast flocks in the fall to feed on the wild rice. At the flats a few 

 pairs remain during summer to rear their young, but the greater 

 number pass farther north. 



A few years ago Mr. John Bates, whose farm is on the shore of 

 Hamilton Bay, near the waterworks, noticed a female of the species 

 late in the fall associating with his tame ducks. It was shy, and 

 kept away from the house for a time, but as the season advanced and 

 the water froze over, it came into the sheds and remained permanentlv 

 with the others. In the spring it built a nest in an out-of-the-wav 

 place, and in due time came forth followed by a brood of youni' 

 ones, which in time grew up and bred with the domestic species. 



