THE DUCK GENUS. 
125 
fiot so large, and ■with a yellow bill ; the Scoter Duck , or 
~J ac k Diver, with a knob at the base of a yellow bill; the 
Tufted Duck, adorned with a thick crest ; the Scaup Duck, 
less than the common duck, with the bill of a greyish blue 
colour; the Golden Dye, with a large white spot at the 
corners of the mouth, resembling an eye ; the Sheldrake, 
"ith the bill of a bright red, and swelling into a knob; the 
Mallard, which is the stock whence our tame breed has 
probably been produced ; the shoveller, which has a bill 
tliree inches long, and remarkably broad at the end ; the 
Pintail, with the two middle feathers of the tail three inches 
longer than the rest ; the Pochard, with the head and neck 
of a bright bay ; the long-tailed duck, the general colour 
of whose plumage is deep chocolate, and the outer feathers 
of the tail, which are white, four inches longer than the 
lest ; the widgeon, with a lead-coloured bill, and the plunt- 
! \8 e of the back marked with narrow black and white un- 
dulated lines, but best known by its whistling sound: lastly, 
Jhe Teal, which is the smallest of this kind, with the bill 
dlack, the head and upper part of the neck of a bright bay. 
ihese are the most common birds of the duck kind among 
ourselves; but who can describe the amazing variety of this 
b'lbe, if he extends his view to the different quarters of the 
"orld : The most noted of the foreign tribe are, the Mm- 
c °vy Duck , or, more properly speaking, the Musk Duck, 
80 called from a supposed musky smell, with naked skin 
* °und the eyes, and which is a native of Africa. The Bra- 
Mian Duck, which is the size of a goose, all over black 
e *cept the tips of the wings. The American Wood Duck, 
"ith a variety of beautiful colours, and a plume of feathers, 
which falls from the back of the head like a friar’s cowl. 
i he Chinese, or Mandarin Duck, is somewhat less than 
a wigeon, but remarkable for its elegance and beauty. The 
prevailing colour of its plumage on the upper parts is dusky 
uiown ; the scapulars, however, arc black, and at the bend 
°1 the wing are three transverse streaks of black, and two 
l white alternately. The neck and breast are chesnut ; 
j, l( ‘ deak and legs are red, and the head is adorned with a 
llle expanded crest, the base of which is white, and the 
U l'pcr part a beautiful glossy green. 
I hese, and many others, might be added, were increasing 
le number of names the way to enlarge the sphere of our 
comp re hensi 0 n. ° 
■ ^ these live in the manner of our domestic ducks, keep- 
^ 8 together in flocks in (he winter, and Hying in pairs in 
5 niI P er ; bringing up theiryoung by the water-side, and lead- 
them to t leir food as soon as out of the shell. Their nests 
