Pied Vy Ck. 
Common Wild Duck and Mallard. Will. Ora. 371. 380. 
Rait Syn. p. 145. A. 1.150. 1, 
Albin. 2. pl. 10.—1. pl. 99. , 
Br. Zool. 2. p. 270. pl. 97; 
Ar&. Zoal. Na. 494. 
Lath. Gen. Syn. 6. p. 489. 43. 
Le Canard Sauvage. Brif. Orn. 6. p. 318. 4 
Buff. Oif. 9. po 115. pl. 7. 8, 
—Pi. Enl, 776. 777. 
Gras-And, Blanacke. Faun. Succ. Sp. 131. 
Welde Ente. Frifch. 21. 158-159. 
Ratza. Scopolt. 
Einheimifche ent. Stock ent. Kram. 341. 
This is the parent ftock of our domefticated or common Duck, 
The varieties in a tame flate are endlefs, but they uniformly pre- 
ferve one character by which we can trace them to this wild origin ; 
this is the fhort curled tail feathers of the Drakes, which are con- 
ftant in all its varieties of plumage, and the form of the bill in both 
fexes, whether in a wild or domettic ftate, 
"Vhefe birds are fo well known, that we beftow little attention on 
their beauty ; or we fhould confider the Mallard Drake the moft 
beautiful of the web-footed birds that inhabit this country. The 
plumage thrcughout is of fingular richnefs, and the various dotted 
ftreaks and lines on the plainer colours are uncommonly elegant, 
The colours of the female, as in other inftances, are more fimple. 
Wild 
