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"SPECIES 5. dNYdS BOSCHdS.
                    THE MALLARD.
                    [Plate LXX.-Fig. 7.]
LATH. Syn. m,p. 489.-BEWICK, rIp. 291.-Le Canard Sauvage,
  BRISS. vi, p. 518. 4.--BUFF. ix, P. 115. pl. 7, 8.-PEALE'S -U-
  seum, .o. 2864.*
  THE Mallard, or common Wild Drake, is so universally
known as scarcely to require a description. It measures twen-
ty-four inches in length, by three feet in extent, and weighs
upwards of two pounds and a half;t the bill is greenish yellow;
irides hazel; head and part of the neck deep glossy changeable
green, ending in a narrow collar of white; the rest of the neck
and breast are of a dark purplish chestnut; lesser wing coverts
brown ash, greater crossed near the extremities with a band of
white, and tipt with another of deep velvetty black; below this
lies the speculum, or beauty spot, of a rich and splendid light
purple, with green and violet reflexions, bounded on every
side with black; quills pale brownish ash; back brown, skirted
with paler; scapulars whitish, crossed with fine undulating lines
of black; rump and tail coverts black glossed with green, ter-
tials very broad and pointed at the ends; tail consisting of eigh-
teen feathers, whitish, centred with brown ash, the four middle
ones excepted, which are narrow, black glossed with violet, re -
* .3nas Boschas, GxEL. SjSt. I, p. 538, XoV*. 40.-Inl. Ornz. p. 850, A'o.
49.-
.rct. Zool. .Yo. 494.-Br. Zool. .o. 279.-Le canard Sauvage, P1. Enl. 776,
male; 777, female.-PEALE'S Museum, No. 2865, female.
f Mr. Ord shot a male on the Delaware, in the month of April, whichi,
weighed three pounds five ounces; and he saw them in Florida, in the win-
ter, when they are fatter than in the spring' of greater weight. In the
month of March he shot two females, in East Florida, weighing two pounds
each.