THE MALLARD. 
197 
and flock together, and are both subject to the double 
annual moulting; of which more anon. The domes- 
ticated duck only loses its inclination for flying, when 
it is bred and reared far from any large sheet of 
water ; but where an extent of water is at hand, this 
bird will be observed to assume more brisk and ac- 
tive habits. It will indulge in long and lofty flights, 
and frequently take off with the congregated wild 
fowl in their nocturnal excursions. 
I have the finest possible opportunity of looking 
into the habits of the mallard at any hour of the 
day, from the rising to the setting sun : for here this 
bird, and large flocks of its congeners, are perpetual 
visitors during the winter months. They fear no 
danger ; and they seem to know that in this popu- 
lous neighbourhood there is one retreat left to which 
they can retire, and in which they can find a shelter 
from the persecutions which are poured down so 
thick upon them in other places, by man, their ever 
watchful and insatiate pursuer. 
Some six years ago, I put a number of wild ducks* 
eggs to be hatched by a domestic duck. The pro- 
duce of these eggs having intermixed with the 
common barn-door breed of ducks, there has been 
produced by this union such an endless variety of 
colouring, that it is now impossible to trace the 
identical origin of the birds with any degree of cer- 
tainty. Half wild, half tame, they will come to the 
windows to be fed ; but still they have a wariness 
about them quite remarkable ; and they will often 
startle and take wing at very trivial causes of alarm. 
In this group the naturalist may see the milk-white 
o 3 
