7o 
Mallard, the (Pages 41-43), or wild duck is common and widely 
distributed throughout the British Isles. 
During the winter these birds collect in hundreds on large unfre- 
quented sheets of water, where they are shot and decoyed for the 
market. When a “ pair ’’ are disturbed during the breeding-season 
the drake invariably waits for the duck to rise before him and then 
follows in her wake. 
On the approach of the breeding-season, they separate in pairs, 
some going to higher ground to nest, whilst others remain round 
the lakes and ponds. The drake (unlike the geese and swans) 
forsakes his mate as soon as she commences to sit, leaving her to feed, 
and to attend to the eggs as best she can. The ducks overcome this 
apparent difficulty by plucking the down and small feathers from their 
breast to form a covering for the eggs whilst they are away feeding. 
The breast is thus quite bare, which allows of more heat being trans- 
mitted from their bodies to the eggs. 
Eleven or twelve eggs form an average nest, but much larger 
clutches are not uncommon. They are of a pale buff or greenish 
colour and have a greasy surface. 
The ingenuity displayed by the wild duck in successfully transfer- 
ring her brood front a remote nest to the water is really wonderful. 
Martin, House- (Frontispiece and Pages 6 and 7). — The house- 
martin, whose very existence is totally unknown to the average 
person, is perhaps the prettiest bird of this familiar family. Although 
not so common as the swallow, it is well distributed throughout our 
islands. The upper half is of a glossy indigo blue, while the undersides 
are all white, including a patch on the back just above the tail. The 
line of demarcation is remarkably well defined, not a gradual shading 
from blue to white, but an abrupt straight line from the beak to the 
tail. This little bird’s legs are white-feathered right down to the claws. 
The nest of the house-martin is similar to that of the swallow, being 
also made of mud, but differs inasmuch as it is always closed at the 
topand is very deep (whereas the swallow's is open and very shallow), 
the martin entering through a small hole in the side. Several nests 
are often built about farms, in top corners of upper window-frames, 
or under the eaves of a roof. Very large colonies, consisting of 
several hundreds of nests, are at times to be found high up and close 
together in sheltered corners of sea-cliffs in certain parts of the 
country. The nest is built up patiently by the old birds with small 
particles of mud, which they gather up from the pools or moist places 
on the roadside, and carry in their beaks to the nesting-site. In 
dry weather they often travel considerable distances to find suitable 
soft mud. At such times they will readily take advantage of a little 
friendly assistance in the form of a pail of water poured on to the dry 
road to make some artificial mud. 
These birds are endowed by nature with special salivary glands in 
their throats, which enable them to mix the small pellets of mud 
with saliva (probably unconsciously while carrying it), which imparts 
to it a wonderful adhesive power. When the mud nest is quite dry, 
it is remarkably hard and strong. The nest is lined with straw 
and feathers to receive the clutch of three pure white eggs. 
A very remarkable feature about the house-martin's nest is that 
when once the eggs are laid and the bird starts sitting, there 
will invariably be found a small, hard-backed insect somewhat like a 
