SPECIES 5. >aN^S BOSCHAS. 
THE MALLARD. 
[Plate LXX.— Fig. 7.] 
Lath. Syn. iii, p. 489 . — Bewick, 291. — Le Canard Sauvage, 
Briss. VI, 2^.518. 4. — Buff, ix, p. 115. pi. 7, 8. — Peai.e’s Mh' 
sewn, tM a. 2864.* 
The Mallard, or common Wild Drake, is so universally 
known as scarcely to require a description. It measures twen- 
ty-four inches in length, by three feet in extent, and weighs 
upwards of two pounds and a half;! the bill is greenish yellow; 
irides hazel; head and part of the neck deep glossy changeable- 
green, ending in a narrow collar of white; the rest of the neck 
and breast are of a dark purplish chestnut; lesser wing coverts 
brown ash, greater crossed near the extremities with a band of 
white, and tipt with another of deep velvetty black; below this 
lies the speculum, or beauty spot, of a rich and splendid light 
purple, with green and violet reflexions, bounded on every 
side with black; quills pale brownish ash; back brown, skirted 
with paler; scapulars whitish, crossed with fine undulating lines 
of black; rump and tail coverts black glossed with green, ter- 
tials very broad and pointed at the ends; tail consisting of eigh- 
teen feathers, whitish, centred with brown ash, the four middle 
ones excepted, which are narrow, black glossed with violet, re- 
* Jlnas Boschas, Gmei. Syst. i, p. 638, JVo. 40. — Jnd. Orn, p. 850, JVo. 49.-^ 
.Bret, Zool. JVb. 494. — Br. Zool- JVo. 279. — Le canard Sauvage, PI. Enl. 776, 
male; 777, female. — P eale’s Museum, No. 2865, female. 
t Mr. Ord shot a male on the Delaware, in the month of April, which 
weighed three pounds five ounces; and he saw them in Florida, in the win- 
ter, when they are fatter than in the spring, of greater weight. In the 
month of March he shot two females, in East Florida, weighing two pounds 
each. 
