THE 
Natural History of British Ducks 
THE MALLARD 
Anas Boscas (Linnaeus) 
In England the Mallard, like the agricultural labourer, is much less commonly 
met with than in days of yore, the ruthless hand of the drainer having largely 
deprived these birds of their favourite haunts ; but in Scotland a different rule 
prevails. There the man with a gun is of more account : it is he who 
enriches the land with his superfluous wealth, and to encourage him in this 
laudable practice is naturally the first thought of landowners who seek to 
make the most of their property. As a step in this direction the Wild Birds' 
Protection Act was heartily welcomed, and to no bird was it more helpful than 
to the Mallard, who, until the passing of that beneficial measure, were indis- 
criminately slaughtered at the very time when they most needed to be let 
alone. In the month of March when, after pairing, they adjourned to their 
breeding-grounds, they fell an easy prey to the shoulder-gunner, who shot 
them down without any thought to the future. But happily that is all altered 
now. The shooting season ends on March i, and from that time the great 
bulk of the birds have peace until the following August. 
Taking everything into consideration, there is no bird which enjoys greater 
popularity with all classes than the Mallard : for to the poor man he provides 
many a dinner, and sometimes a little monetary help, and to the more for- 
tunate he affords the best of sport, being a genuine wild creature — here to-day 
and gone to-morrow — while his beautiful form is a delight to all beholders. 
B 
