THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 782.— August. 1906. 



OBSEEVATIONAL NOTES ON THE WILD DUCK (ANAS 

 BOSCAS) AND THE LITTLE GEEBE (PODICIPES 

 FLUVIATILIS). 



By Gordon Dalgliesh. 



According to my own observations, the Wild Duck begins to 

 pair off about January 25th, and, contrary to the general rule, 

 the ducks court the drakes, uttering their well-known cry of 

 " kaka, kaka, kak, kak," and sidling up to their consorts with 

 bobbing heads. The drakes, however, appear quite unconscious 

 of this display of affection, and indeed seem rather to try and 

 avoid it. The Mallard at this date is now in his full beauty. 

 His metallic green and purple head, deep claret-coloured breast, 

 grey back, blue-black rump, and purple speculum, all blend 

 together in exquisite harmony, and tend to make him the 

 loveliest of water-fowl. It is worth noting that in the true Wild 

 Duck when arising from or alighting on the water the female 

 invariably leads the way ; in the domestic Duck this is just the 

 reverse, as it is the drake that leads his harem down to the pond 

 for their daily swim. 



In Surrey I have frequently found Wild Duck's nests a long 

 way from any water, built among the heather. I was for a long 

 time puzzled as to how the old duck would convey her numerous 

 brood to the water when hatched. This was explained to me 

 this year by a friend, a naturalist of keen observation. He told 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. X., August, 1906. z 



