﻿MALLARD, OR WILD DUCK. 91 



draw their victims by the legs under water, and fasten 

 them to a srirdle that is attached around their own bodies. 



Under all these circumstances it is necessary for the 

 sportsman to keep himself opposite the wind and perfectly 

 quiet, as ducks are possessed of a sharp scent and quick 

 powers of hearing ; the sight of ducks is, however, not 

 acute, particularly in the dark ; the Mallard is besides a 

 very shy bird, and at all times watchful and suspicious. 



The food of the Mallard consists in aquatic insects, vege- 

 table matter and grain, worms, slugs, &c. 



The nest of the Wild Duck is generally placed on some 

 dry spot near the water, but invariably under shelter, and 

 concealed by thick bushes or long herbage ; several instances 

 are recorded of the nest and eggs being found in a deserted 

 nest of some land bird, and we can add the following 

 occurrence to the list of unusual places chosen by this 

 species, where one would hardly expect to meet with it. 

 The following is taken from our note-book, viz. 



" On the 2nd of March, 1842, we were walking on the 

 skirts of the water-pit in Stoney field, Shepperton, Middle- 

 sex, when one of the party threw a stone into the water, 

 on which there arose from among the brushwood, with 

 which the place is filled, a beautiful Wild Duck ; it rose 

 within ten yards of us, so that we could plainly distinguish 

 it to be a Mallard. It flew several times round and round 

 the field as if desirous to settle again in the same spot, 

 but was deterred by our presence ; it then flew off about 

 half a mile and again returned, and passed over our heads, 

 but as we stood in an unsheltered place and were unable 

 to conceal ourselves, it again flew off towards the Thames, 

 and apparently settled on one of the small islands in it. 

 A day or two after we were told that a duck and drake 

 had been seen in the same place again, by which we sus- 



