Clafs II. MALLARD. 463 



with brown : the fpot on the wing is of a rich purple: 

 the tail confifts of twenty four feathers. What 

 diftinguifhes the male of this fpecies from all others 

 are the four middle feathers, which are black and 

 ftrongly curled upwards ; but the females want this 

 mark. Their plumage is of a pale reddifh brown, 

 ipotted with black. The legs are of a fafFron color. 

 The common tame fpecies of ducks take their 

 origin from thefe, and may be traced to it by un- 

 erring characters. The drakes, howfoever they vary 

 in colors, always retain the curled feathers of the tail : 

 and both fexes the form of the bill of the wild kind. 

 Nature fports in the colors of all domeftic animals ; 

 and for a wife and ufeful end 5 that mankind may the 

 more readily diftinguifli and clame their refpective 

 property. Wild ducks pair in the fpring, and breed 

 in all marlhy grounds, and lay from ten to fixteen 

 eggs. They abound in Lincoln/hire, the great maga- 

 zine of wild fowl in this kingdom ; where prodigious 

 numbers are taken annually in the decoys. 



A decoy is generally made where there is a large 

 pond furrounded with wood, and beyond that a 

 marlhy and uncultivated country; if the piece of 

 water is not thus furrounded, it will be attended with 

 the noife and other accidents, which may be ex- 

 pected to fright the wild fowl from a quiet haunt, 

 where they mean to fleep (during the day-time) in 

 fecurity. 



If thefe noifes or disturbances are wilful, it hath 

 been held, that an action will lye againft the dif- 

 furber. 



Gg 3 As 



