. Hours in my garden, and other nature-sketches. With 138 illus. Natural history. WILD-DUCKS, WATER-BIRDS, AND SEA-FOWL. IF you chance to know any quiet bit of water, either in the shape of small pond or enlargement of a little stream, pretty well sur- rounded by rushes, sedges, and foliage, you are certain now and then to find a wild-duck upon it, diving and dabbling about in search of food. Some of them are very pretty in plumage. The mallard is every way a fine bird, with its lovely colours and tufted tail. When in full plumage, his head is velvety green, and his body and wings varied
. Hours in my garden, and other nature-sketches. With 138 illus. Natural history. WILD-DUCKS, WATER-BIRDS, AND SEA-FOWL. IF you chance to know any quiet bit of water, either in the shape of small pond or enlargement of a little stream, pretty well sur- rounded by rushes, sedges, and foliage, you are certain now and then to find a wild-duck upon it, diving and dabbling about in search of food. Some of them are very pretty in plumage. The mallard is every way a fine bird, with its lovely colours and tufted tail. When in full plumage, his head is velvety green, and his body and wings varied of the finest tints of grey and brown and purple. But during the summer months, as if nature had resorted to a device to save the species, or to ensure the maintenance of numbers, the cock-mallard is stripped of his beauty and reduced to a likeness to his "; This is owing to a very severe and unusual moult. All the primary wing feathers come off at once, and he thus assumes sober colours till he can fly again. Were it not for this arrange- ment of subdued colouring, he would be too easily recognised, and too easily hunted and shot. No doubt this is a "protective" arrangement in great measure. The mallard is fond of marshy lands, and in the winter,. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Japp, Alexander H. (Alexander Hay), 1839-1905. New York, Macmillan & Co.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookp, booksubjectnaturalhistory
