DUCK. See ANAS. The broader bill, laminated and not toothed, distinguishes the Linmean genus anus from merges smews, mergansers. and the goosander). In recent ornithological systems, however, it is divided into numerous genera. but three chief groups are usually recognized, corresponding to swans, geese, and clucks of popu lar nomenclature. See GOOSE and SWAN. The group to which the name D. is some times extended, both by scientific writers and in popular language. is characterized by greater breadth of bill than either the swans or geese. Their• food is chiefly animal, whilst that of both swans and geese is in great part vegetable. Their legs are shorter and placed further backward than those of geese, so that they move with greater diffi culty and with a more waddling gait on laud, and their necks are shorter than those of geese, and much shorter than those of swans, although in this character there is a con siderable difference between different species. There is a very marked difference in plumage between the males and females, which is not the case in any corresponding degree in swans and geese. They exhibit also a peculiar anatomical character in a large dilation of their trachea (windpipe) on each side at its bifurcation. This great group of clucks is subdivided into two sections; one section characterized by a webbed or broadly margined hind-toe, the other by a hind-toe destitute of membrane. These characters are connected with important differences in other respects, and particularly in habits; the ducks of the first section being chiefly oceanic, living more exclusively on animal food, and diving readily and frequently in pursuit of it; whilst those of the second sec tion are more generally inhabitants of lakes and other inland waters, showing a prefer ence for shallow waters. Those of the first section also have the feet placed further backward than those of the second; those of the second have generally longer wings than those of the first, and a longer neck by which they are adapted for seeking their food by dabbling in muddy shallows, they less frequently dive, and when alarmed, gen erally seek safety by taking wing. Many of both sections are migratory, and spend the summer in arctic and sub-arctic regions. Not a few of them are common to the north ern parts of both the eastern and western continents. Their plumage is remarkably thick, soft. and compact. The tongue, which, unlike that of most birds, is large and fleshy, assists in the. selection of food. To the first or oceanic section of ducks belong scoters, garrots, eiders, pochards, scaups, harelds, etc.; to the second section belong shieldrakes, shovelers, musk ducks, summer D., pintails, gadwalls, teals, wigeons, bluewings, etc.—See these articles.
The COMMON Ducx, or DOMESTIC Ducx (arras bosehas), known also in its wild state as the WILD DUCK or MALLARD, belongs to a genus, or sub-genus, of the second section, characterized by a flattish broad bill, longer than the head, not contracted, nor much dilated, towards the tip, and not much elevated at the base, destitute of tubercle at the base, the dentieulations of the upper mandible (ends of the laminae) scarcely projecting beyond the margin, and a short and rather pointed tail of 16 feathers. Even as thus characterized, it includes tealp (q.v.), which are by some ornithologists constituted into a separate genus. The male (drake) of the common D. has the four middle tail feathers recurved. The deep emerald green of the head and upper part of the neck, the white collar which separates the green from the dark chestnut of the lower part of the neck, and the deep blue iridescent speculum .of the wing—formed by the outer portion of the outer web of the secondaries—are also marked characteristics of this beautiful bird; the plumage of which exhibits greater brightness of colors—during the breeding season at least—in the wild than in the domestic variety. At the close of the breeding season, the male of the wild-duck assumes for a time a plumage more sober, and resem bling that of the female; but before winter, the splendid plumage proper to his sex is again acquired. The mallard or wild-duck is a widely-distributed bird, being found in the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, and extending southward as far as Florida—where it is abundant—and the West Indies, although in the old world it is not known as belonging to regions of similar climate. It was formerly much more abun dant than it now is in Britain, the drainage of marshes having apparently tended more than any other cause to the diminution of its numbers. Multitudes of mallards, how ever, still visit the fen counties of England in winter; and great numbers are taken in decoys, along with other anatida, and sent to the London market. See WiLin•owL. Many wild-ducks, however, still breed in Britain, sometimes near the lakes or rivers which they frequent, sometimes in more elevated moorish districts, from which the parents often take opportunity of bringing their very young brood to the lower waters, by swimming down the streams on some occasion of their being swollen by rain, and it interesting nteresting to see the little creatures hurried on, without injury, by the current, and passing along narrow rapids and over waterfalls of considerable height, much as pieces of cork might do, and with as little apparent injury. The nest is composed of grass, intermixed and lined with down, and the eggs are usually 9 to 12 in number.