188 
ANAS BOSCHAS. 
deep brown ; the chin and throat for about two inches, 
plain yellowish white ; wings, bill, and legs, nearly as 
in the male. 
The windpipe of the male has a bony labyrinth, or 
bladder-like knob, puffing out from the left side. The 
intestines measure six feet, and are as wide as those of 
the canvass back . The windpipe is of uniform diameter 
until it enters the labyrinth. 
This is the original stock of the common domesti- 
cated duck, reclaimed, time immemorial, from a state 
of nature, and now become so serviceable to man. In 
many individuals, the general garb of the tame drake 
seems to have undergone little or no alteration ; but 
the stamp of slavery is strongly imprinted in his dull 
indifferent eye and grovelling gait, while the lofty look, 
long tapering neck, and sprightly action of the former, 
bespeak his native spirit and independence. 
The common wild duck is found in every fresh water 
lake and river of the United States in winter, but seldom 
frequents the sea shores or salt marshes. Their summer 
residence is the north, the great nursery of this nume- 
rous genus. Instances have been known of some solitary 
pairs breeding here in autumn. In England these 
instances are more common. The nest is usually placed 
in the most solitary recesses of the marsh, or bog, amidst 
coarse grass, reeds, and rushes, and generally contains 
from twelve to sixteen eggs of a dull greenish white. 
The young are led about by the mother in the same 
manner as those of the tame duck, but with a superior 
caution, a cunning and watchful vigilance peculiar to 
her situation. The male attaches himself to one female, 
as among other birds in their native state, and is the 
guardian and protector of her and her feeble brood. The 
mallard is numerous in the rice fields of the Southern 
States during winter, many of the fields being covered 
with a few inches of water ; and, the scattered grains of 
the former harvest lying in abundance, the ducks swim 
about and feed at pleasure. 
The flesh of the common wild duck is in general and 
high estimation ; and the ingenuity of man, in every 
