THE MALLARD. 39 
The male of this species has a large flat bony labyrinth on 
the bottom of the windpipe, very much like that of the can- 
vas-back, but smaller; over one of its concave sides is spread 
an exceeding thin transparent skin or membrane. The intes- 
tines are of great width, and measure six feet in length. 
THE MALLARD. (Anas boschas.) 
PLATE LXX.—Fi@. 7. 
Lath. Syn. iii. p. 489.—Bewick, ii. p. 291.—Le Canard Sauvage, Briss. vi. p. 318, 
4,— Buff. ix. p. 415, pl. 7, 8.—Peale’s Museum, No. 2864. 
BOSCHAS MAJOR.—Witiovcuy.* 
Anas boschas, Linn. Syst.—Gmel. i. p. 538.—Bonap. Synop. p. 382.—Flem. Br. 
Anim. p. 123.—Le Canard Sauvage, Z'emm. Man. p. 385.—Wild Duck, Mont. 
Ornith. Dict. ii. and Supp.—Common Wild Duck, Selby, Illust. Br. Ornith. 
pl. 5.—Anas (Boschas) domestica, Worth. Zool. ii. p. 442. 
THe mallard, or common wild drake, is so universally known 
as scarcely to require a description. It measures twenty-four 
* This well-known species becomes interesting when considered as 
the stock whence the most flourishing duckeries of the poultry-yard have 
sprung ; it is most amply spread over Europe and America, and I have 
received it from India. Universally known, it is esteemed for the table, 
and will fetch a higher price in the markets than most of the others in 
this country, and in America seems only surpassed by the canvas-back. 
In structure and general economy, it presents a most interesting form, 
combining the peculiarities of the pelagic and more terrestrial. It will 
live and find a sustenance in the sea and its coasts, by lakes and rivers, 
and in the midst of extensive moors and fens ; it possesses a powerful 
frame, and its wings are adapted to strong flight ; it can derive its sus- 
tenance either from the waters or the more inland pastures and culti- 
vated fields ; it isan expert diver when necessity calls it ; and its breed- 
ing places are chosen by the sides of lakes and marshes, on the stumps 
of aged trees, like the summer duck, and on precipitous cliffs. In the 
latter situation, I once took the nest of a wild duck within ten yards 
distant from that of a peregrine falcon. It was situated on a projecting 
knoll of heather, jutting from an ivied cliff, and the tenants must often 
have seen each other in their passage to and from their precious deposits 
In this species we have the type of the genus Boschas. The centre feathers 
