ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 137 
placed on the bank, but occasionally young wild ducks have 
been found in a nest in trees, the parent bird in such instances 
carrying her young from the cradle to the water. Dr. Bowdler 
Sharpe informs me that he has known the Wild Duck to nest 
as far as a mile distant from water. It is very necessary to 
pinion Wild Duck when it is desired to keep a flock of them 
on a pond, under which circumstances, if undisturbed, they will 
freely breed, and serve as decoys to the wild birds of their own 
species. Mr. Woodham, who has kept these birds for a con- 
siderable time, states that they thrive well on boiled rice, 
greaves, and barley meal. He describes them as breeding 
freely, and rearing large broods, the young ones proving per- 
fectly tame, while the ducks exhibited extraordinary maternal 
courage, flying at any person or animal approaching the duck- 
lings. At the same time Mr. Woodham states that the drakes 
were very troublesome in a mixed collection of waterfowl, by 
crossing continually with the ducks of other breeds. 
Male.—Head and neck brilliant metallic green, the lower 
part encircled with a pure white ring; back and upper breast 
rich chestnut; remainder of breast and under parts greyish- 
white, finely pencilled with dark lines; four centre feathers of 
the tail stiffly curled upwards ; wing-bar blue, violet, and green ; 
feet orange ; bill yellowish-green. 
Female.— Plumage of various shades of grey and brown ; 
white throat ; without the curl in tail. 
Young.—In down, olive yellow, with a stripe on the 
forehead, passing over the eyes to the back of the head. 
Egg.—White, washed with green; eleven to sixteen in 
number. March—May. Incubation, twenty-eight days. 
Nest Down.—“ Neutral grey in colour, occasionally 
with a slight tinge of brown” (Seebohm), 
