MALLARD. 
107 
those districts of England and Scotland where a 
more partial extent of moss or marsh existed, ex- 
tensive improvements have taken place, and their 
wonted haunts disturbed, or in a manner de- 
stroyed. 
In spring, at the beginning of the breeding sea- 
son, flocks of wild ducks begin to separate into 
pairs and partially leave tbeir more frequent locali- 
ties. At this time the femide may be frequently 
seen at a considerable height, pursued by one or 
more drakes, performing many coy evolutions, fly- 
ing in circles with extreme rapidity, and keeping 
up the chase, as it were, for a considerable time. 
They now either retire to secluded pools or to 
ditches, and soon after to the boundaries of the 
morass, or upland pastures, where the nest is ge- 
nerally made, being almost never placed imme- 
diately in or very near tlio great or common ren- 
dezvous, to which the young are led soon after 
hatching ; but although the ordinary breeding places 
are where we have stated, they are sometimes va- 
ried ; we have known the nest placed on the sum- 
mit of a precipitous rock enclosed with wood, and 
the stump of old willows, the fork of an old tree, or 
some deserted nest, such as that of a crow men- 
tioned by Mr. Selby, at least thirty feet from the 
ground, are not unfrequently chosen. * It is com- 
* Mr. Audubon mentions having found the nest of the mal- 
lard on large prostrate and rotten logs, three feet above the 
ground, and in the centre cf a com brake, nearly a mile distant 
from any water. Om. Tig. iii. 169. 
