crimson bosom showing at a distance like some splendid flower
above the herbage. At intervals of two or three minutes he soars
vertically up to a height of twenty or twenty-five yards to utter
his song, composed of a single long, powerful and rather musical
note, ending with an attempt at a flourish, during which the bird
flutters and turns about in the air; then, as if discouraged at
his failure, he drops down, emitting harsh, guttural chirps, to
resume his stand. Meanwhile the female is invisible, keeping
closely concealed under the long grass. But at length, attracted
perhaps by the bright bosom and aërial music of the male, she
occasionally exhibits herself for a few moments, starting up with
a wild zigzag flight, and, darting this way and that, presently
drops into the grass once more. The moment she appears above the
grass the male gives chase, and they vanish from sight together."

"Courtship with the mallard," says J.G. Millais (_Natural History
of British Ducks_, p. 6), "appears to be carried on by both
sexes, though generally three or four drakes are seen showing
themselves off to attract the attention of a single duck.
Swimming round her, in a coy and semi-self-conscious manner, they
now and again all stop quite still, nod, bow, and throw their
necks out in token of their admiration and their desire of a
favorable response. But the most interesting display is when all
the drakes simultaneously stand up in the water and rapidly pass
their bills down their breasts, uttering at the same time a low
single note somewhat like the first half of the call that teal
and pintail make when 'showing off.' At other times the
love-making of the drake seems to be rather passive than active.
While graciously allowing himself to be courted, he holds his
head high with conscious pride, and accepts as a matter of course