110 
MALLARD. 
land, unless when the severity of the weather has 
completely shut up all their accustomed sources. 
We have not very varied information as to the 
geographical range of the wild duck ; it seems gene- 
rally spread over Europe, and reaches the arctic 
circle ; it is American, and is said to be found east- 
ward as far as Japan,* but we do not trace it on 
the peninsula of India or in Africa. Mr. Audubon 
has given us a very good and interesting account of 
the mallard in North America, which, with the 
addition of the remarks of Wilson, will contain all 
that is at present known of the species in that 
country. From these it would appear that this 
bird is very rare in the United States : “ Farther 
eastward, so rare, that it is scarcely known ; and 
not one was seen by myself or my party beyond 
Portland in Maine.” On the western coast of La- 
brador, and in Newfoundland, the people were 
equally unacquainted with it. From Now York 
southwards they became more plentiful, and they are 
abundant in the Carolinas and Floridas. “ In the 
Floridas they are at times seen in such multitudes 
as to darken the air, and the noise they make in 
rising from off a large submerged savannah is like 
the rumbling of thunder.” + We have not any in- 
formation how far their range is to the south. 
We consider that a minute description of this 
well-known bird is not necessary ; ono peculiarity 
which will always distinguish it as a species is the 
* Yarrell. + Aud. Orn. Biog., iii. ] 69. 
