39 



fected domestication, but also that they manifest no aversion to 

 breed freely, even when they are placed under artificial restraints. 

 The birds here generally returned to their haunts each successive 

 spring in preference to any other; and moreover in the case of the 

 females, induced a mate to come along with them. It is also evi- 

 dent that the Dusky-Duck is fully as domesticable as the Mallard, 

 which has been thus far generally supposed to be the originator of 

 our common tamed ducks. This species readily crossed with the 

 wild Mallard and produced hybrids without any need of resorting 

 to special inducements to accomplish this result. 



