. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 270 OKDEES OF BIEDSâDUCKS, GEESE, AND SWAXS great, medium and small, I think the Mallard Duck' is the highest type, and the best average. It is one of the largest ducks; it is one of the handsomest; it is strong on the wing, and highly intelligent. It is a joy unto the sports- man who finds it in its haunts, and a delight to the epicure who finds it upon the bill of fare. Sluggish indeed must be the pulse which does not beat faster at the sight of a flock of wild Mallards,
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 270 OKDEES OF BIEDSâDUCKS, GEESE, AND SWAXS great, medium and small, I think the Mallard Duck' is the highest type, and the best average. It is one of the largest ducks; it is one of the handsomest; it is strong on the wing, and highly intelligent. It is a joy unto the sports- man who finds it in its haunts, and a delight to the epicure who finds it upon the bill of fare. Sluggish indeed must be the pulse which does not beat faster at the sight of a flock of wild Mallards, free in its haunts, and ready to leap into the air and speed away at the slightest alarm. The Mallard is recognizable by its large size, and the brilliant metallic-green head and neck, and pearl-gray body, of the male. The female is a very different-looking Vjird, of a modest brown color, streaked with black. There is only one thing at all annoying about this bird, and that. BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 'â ^ , is its close resemblance to our domestic duck; but for this there is a very good reason. It is the wild ancestor of all our domestic ducks, save one or two varieties. The Mallard is found throughout the tem- perate zone in both the Old World and the New, and therefore it is known by many names. In ^Aii'as hos'clias. Average length, 22 inches. England it is called the Stock Duck, because it was the original stock from which the domestic duck has descended. In North America its range co\'ers practically the whole continent down to Panama, and in Asia it reaches to India. It breeds persistently throughout the greater portion of its immense rangeâin the long grass of pond margins; in the woods, be- tween the spur roots of trees; and on the prai- ries, beside streams of the smallest size. Once while collecting in Montana, late in May, I found a tiny water-hole, barely ten feet in diameter, hiding in the sunken head of a very dry coulee. For miles in every direction stretched a billowy
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