The m id Duck Cerra.
Numb. XCIX.
iTS Weight is thirty two Ounces; its Length from the End of the Bill
to the End of the Tail twenty five Inches and a half; the Breadth when
the Wings are extended thirty four Inches; its Bill is yellow with a Shade
of dusky green, about two Inches and a half long, and almoft an Inch
broad, not very flat, having a round Tip or Nail at the End of the upper
Mandible, which is found in moft of the Duck kind.
Under the Throat, Breaftand Belly it is of a light brown faintly fpotted;
the Head, Back and Wings are of a dark brown fpotted with black; thofe
Feathers on the Back, and the covert Feathers on the Wings have light
Edges; it hath twenty four quill Feathers in each Wing of a dark brown
Colour ; the next Row of Feathers are blue with white Tips, and the
next only tipt with white.
The Legs and Feet are of a deep Orange Colour ; the Claws black, and
the innermoft fore Toe is the leaft; the Membranes connecting the Toes
are of a more fordid Colour than the Toes: The Wind-Pipe at its Divarication
hath a Veflel called a Labyrinth.
In Winter time they company together and fly in Flocks, and in Summer
by Pairs, Duck and Mallard together ; they build their Nefts among Heath
<5r Rufhes, not far from the Water, laying twelve or fourteen Eggs before
they fit.
In the Fens in the Ifle of Elyy Norfolk, and Lincoln/hire, about Crow-
la n d and elfewhere, Ducks, Teal-, Widgeon, and other Birds of this kind, at
the Time they moult their Feathers and cannot fly, arc taken yearly in
great Numbers in Nets placed for that Purpofe. Vaft Numbers are like-
wife taken in the Decoys by Ducks trained for that Purpofe, fome of which
flfy out and bring them to the Coy ; others have the outermoft Joint or
Pinion of their Wings cut off, fo that they cannot fly, but always abide in
the Pool; thefe decoy the Ducks into the Pipes to be taken by the Fowler;
they may alfo be taken by laying Hooks baited with Snails or large Worms
in the Places where they frequent.