Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 15, NIC-PAR

O R N I T H
ny parts of tins kingdom, but no where occurs in great-
1 er plenty than in Lincolnshire, where prodigious num-
bex-s are annually taken in the decoys. In only ten de¬
coys in the neighbourhood of Wainfleet, as many as
31,200 have been taken in one season. There is a pro¬
hibition, by act of parliament, against taking them be¬
tween the first of June and the first of October. They
do not always build their nest close to the water, but of¬
ten at a good distance from it, in which case the female
will take the young in her beak, or between her legs, to
the water. They have sometimes been known to lay
their eggs in a high tree, in the deserted nest of a mag¬
pie or crow 5 and an instance has likewise been recorded
of one found at Etchingham in Sussex, sitting on nine
eggs jn an oak, at the height of 25 feet from the ground,
the eggs being supported by some small twigs laid cross-
ways. Like many of the tribe, the mallards, in vast
numbers quit the north at the end of autumn, and mi¬
grating southward, arrive in the beginning of winter in
large flocks, and spread themselves over the lakes and
marshy wastes of the British isles. They pair in the
spring, when the greater number of them again retire
northward to breed, but many straggling pairs stay with
ns; and they, as well as preceding colonists, remain to
rear their young, which become natives, and remain
with us throughout the year. The common domestic
variety of this species assumes very different markings j
but the male, even in its tame state, retains the cui'ling
of the feathers at the tail. Habits of domestication,
however, have deprived the tame duck of that sprightly
look and shape which distinguish the mallard, and have
substituted a more dull and less elegant form and ap¬
pearance in their stead. It is also deserving of remark,
that ducks pair, and axe monogamous in the wild state,
but become polygamous when tame. The Chinese
make great use of ducks, but prefer the tame to the
wild. We are told that most of them in that country
are hatched by artificial heat. The eggs being laid in
boxes of sand, are placed on a brick hearth, to which is
communicated a proper degree of heat during the time
required for hatching. The ducklings ai'e fed with
ci'ay-fish and crabs, boiled and cut small, and afterwards
mixed with boiled rice j and in about a fortnight they
are able to shift for themselves. The proprietors then
provide them with an old step-mother, who leads them
where they are to find provender j being first put on
board a boat, which is destined for their habitation, and
from which the whole flock, amounting often to 300
or 400, go out to feed, and return at command. This
method is commonly practised during the nine warmest
months ol the year, and especially during rice harvest,
when the masters ot the duck boats row up and down
according to the opportunity of procuring food, which
is found in plenty at the tide of ebb, as the rice planta¬
tions are overflowed at high water. It is curious to ob¬
serve how these bii’ds obey their masters j for some
thousands belonging to different boats will feed at large
on the same spot, and on a signal given will follow their
leader to their respective boats without a single stranger
being found among them. No fewer than 40,000 such
boats are supposed to ply on the Tigris. When confined
to dry situations, ducks degenerate in strength, beauty,
and flavour. They feed on various animal and vegeta-*
hie substances, tor which they unceasingly search with
their curiously constructed bills, sifting and separating
Vol. XV. Part II. 5
O L O G Y.
505
every alimentary particle from the mud. When older, Anseres.
they also devour worms, spawn, water-insects, and some- v—
times frogs and small fishes, together with the various
seeds of bog and water plants.
Black-billed whistling duck.—Brown j head somewhat Ariorea.
crested j belly spotted with white and black. Smaller
than the preceding. Inhabits Guiana and Jamaica ;
winters in Carolina, and builds and sits on ti'ees.
Red-crested duck.—Black; head and upper part of Rujina,
the neck testaceous ; crown reddish, that of the male
crested ; wings beneath, and at the edges white ; tail
brown. Female brown, and wants the crest. Inhabits
the Caspian sea, and the lakes of the Tartarian de¬
serts ; is sometimes also found in Italy and Barbary. 354
Tufted duck.—Crest pendent; body black; belly and Fuligula.
wing-spot white ; bill broad, livid, tipt with black ;
irides golden; head greenish; shouldex-s blackish-brown,
with pale straw-coloux-ed dots ; legs dusky-blixe. Fe¬
male brownish, wants the ci’est. Sixteen inches long.
Inhabits Europe and Northern Asia. There ai-e several
varieties. It is not uncommon with us in winter, and is
frequently seen in our fresh waters as late as near the end
of March. It is often brought to market, and sold for
wigeon. It lives not only in fresh water, hut in the sea;
dives well, and feeds on small fishes, crabs and shellfish,
and likewise on the seeds of aquatic plants, particularly
those of the common rush.
Gen. 33. Mf.rgus.
3Ss
Mekgcs.
. . 356
Bill toothed, slender, cylindrical, hooked at the point ; Character^,
nostrils small, oval, in the middle of the bill ; feet
four-toed, outer toe longest.
The birds of this genus live on fish, and are very de¬
structive in ponds. ^
Crested merganser.—Crest globular, white on each Cucullatus.
side; body brown above, white beneath ; bill and legs
black; irides golden; crest larger than the head, edged
with black. Female brown ; crest less and ferruginous.
Length seventeen inches and a half; weight nearly 23
ounces. An elegant species, which inhabits North A-
merica, appearing at Hudson’s bay about the end of
May, and building, close to the lakes, a nest composed
of grass, lined with feathers from its own breast.
Goosander.—A longitudinal crest, somewhat erect; Merganser.
the breast white, without spots ; the tail feathers ash-co¬
loured ; shaft black; bill, legs, and irides red; greater
quill-feathers black ; lesser white. Weight about four
pounds ; length two feet four inches. Inhabits Europe,
Asia, and America. Sometimes visits our rivers and
lakes in severe winters, but retires to the more northern
latitudes to breed. It has been known to build on trees,
but more frequently among rocks or stones, and lays 14
eggs, which, with the bird itself, ai-e eagerly devoured
by the weasel. It swims with only the head above the
surface of the water; dives deep; remains a long time
below, and rises at a considei'able distance. Its flesh is
rancid and scarcely eatable. In quest of fish, it dives
with great celexity, and holds its slippery prey with
gi'eat security by means of its toothed bill, so admirably
adapted to the purpose.
Dim diver, or sparkling fowl.—Crested ; cinereous; Castor*
head and upper parts of the neck bay; chin, middle
quxll feathers, and belly white ; bill and irides red ;
belly sometimes flesh colour. Weighs about 38 ounces ;
’ 38 measures