The Mallard 
3 
to Canada, the Hudson Bay country and the Arctic littoral, whilst many still 
nest east in Minnesota and in the prairies to the east of the Rockies of Wyoming 
and Dakota, Here I have seen large parties assembling after breeding in the 
marshy lakes ; their number and extraordinary tameness at this season are quite 
remarkable. 
This general distribution of the Mallard is mainly due no doubt to his 
omnivorous habits. Nothing comes amiss to him in the way of food. Almost 
any tender grass, insects of all sorts, shellfish, molluscs, fish, acorns or cereals — 
all alike appeal to his indiscriminating palate ; and as some of these are to be 
found in every region under the sun, there the Mallard at one time or another 
bids them welcome to his hospitable maw. His digestive powers must indeed 
be good ; and yet they are nowhere in comparison with those of true sea ducks, 
whose dura ilia are accustomed to deal with even still harder and more un- 
congenial fare. When keeping Mallard in confinement it is well to remember 
that they thrive best on a highly varied diet, with buckwheat and corn as the 
staple food. All ducks indeed (even ' Golden-eyes,' which are difficult to keep 
in confinement) will take readily to buckwheat, possibly mistaking it at first 
sight for the small molluscs and mussels on which they naturally feed. 
Surface-feeding duck, it is commonly said, never dive in search of food ; 
but this is not quite correct. When full grown they commonly content them- 
selves with such insects or other food as they come across while sailing quietly 
along the water, not forgetting to turn tail upwards now and again in search 
of any delectable morsel that may be found below the surface; but occasionally 
the temptation to 'plunge' comes upon them, as upon other mortals, and 
when this happens — when some fish of tempting proportions ventures to come 
within their sphere of influence — down they go in pursuit, and gallantly stick 
to their prey so long as any hope of capture remains. This, however, is not 
a regular habit. The real exceptions to the rule are to be found in the imma- 
ture birds — the birds three-quarters grown, and still unable to fly. At this 
stage of life the Mallard, encouraged .by their attendant mothers, gain much 
of their food by diving. 
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