MALLARD 95 



of the Mallard contrasts markedly with the dull brownish speculum 

 of the Pintail. The Mallard's nearest relative, the Black Duck, is of 

 very rare occurrence in California; it is easily distinguishable from 

 the Mallard by its much darker general color in both sexes and by 

 the lack of the metallic green on the head in the male. 



As a general rule this duck is monogamous in its native estate, 

 although some authorities contend that polygamy occurs where there 

 is a dearth of males. The courting antics of the wild Mallard in Cali- 

 fornia have never been described ; but they are doubtless of the same 

 type as observed by C. W. Townsend in Massachusetts. According 

 to that author the drake swims restlessly about following or sidling 

 up to a duck. She may lead him a long chase before he is able to press 

 his attentions closely. He then begins a continual bowing to her, 

 bobbing his head up and down in nervous jerks so that the yellow 

 bill dips into the water for a quarter of its length and comes up 

 dripping. He also rears himself up in the water and from time to 

 time displays his breast. The female shows little concern at first, 

 but occasionally turns her head to one side and carelessly dabbles her 

 bill in the water. "... Sooner or later, if all goes well, she begins 

 to bow also, less vigorously at first — not touching the water at all — 

 and to the' empty space in front of her. Suddenly she turns and the 

 pair bow to each other in the same energetic nervous jerks, and, 

 unless a rival appears to spoil the situation, the drake has won his 

 suit" (C. W. Townsend, 1916, p. 13). 



The Mallard is one of the earliest ducks to breed. "By February 

 nearly all have selected their partners for the nesting season. They 

 still travel in large companies; but watch a flock of them after they 

 have settled down in the open water. At once they separate into 

 pairs, every handsome 'Greenhead' swimming in close attendance 

 wherever his modestly garbed mate shall lead. Should one of the 

 pair be killed, the other will not mate again that season. . ." (Bowles, 

 in Dawson, 1909, p. 767). 



In California Mallards breed wherever suitable conditions are 

 afforded. There does not seem to be in the lowland districts any 

 difference in the time of nesting which can be correlated with differ- 

 ences in latitude. The earliest record is that by Belding (MS) who 

 found eggs at Gridley, Butte County, March 25, 1890. In Los Angeles 

 County, GrinneU (1898, p. 10) gives the nesting season as extending 

 from the first of April to the end of June, and this probably would 

 apply to other portions of the state as well. The latest report, season- 

 ally, is that by A. K. Fisher (1893a, p. 15) who records doAvny young 

 at Walker Basin, Kern County, July 13, 1891. 



The data brought together in the accompanying table (no. 8) 

 are all that have been found by the authors as applying to California. 



