338 
BRITISH BIRDS, 
HOOK-BILLED DUCK. 
{Anas adunca, Lin . — Le Canard a lec courlSy Briflbn.) 
The bill of this differs from that of the Mallard 
and of the Tame Duck, in being broader, longer, 
and in bending more downwards ; but as this bird is 
of the fame fpecies, fo in other refpeds it nearly re- 
fembles them, and this variation of the bill is pro- 
bably only one of thofe accidental fportings of na- 
ture, not very uncommon in all domeftic animals ; 
every variety of which, each with its original pecu- 
liarities, (for like begets like) may eafily be kept up 
as long as caprice fliall feel gratified by continuing 
them. Latham fays thefe birds feem only to be 
kept in England .out of curiofity, but that accord- 
ing to the information he received, they are full as 
common in Germany as the other fort of Tame 
Ducks. He alfo mentions other varieties of the 
Mallard. Thofe with copped heads, others want- 
ing the webs of their feet, &c. if added to the lifl, 
would only ferve to miflead the young enquirer ; 
and to the experienced ornithologifl fuch details are 
unnecelfary. 
