THE MALLARD DUCK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16602, 14 July 1914, Page 9

THE MALLARD DUCK.

EXTERMINATED ON THE AVON. Sentence of death was recently passed on the mallard duck, who has made Jumseli at home on the river banks ion ml tlie gardens. A common duck ho was crossing with the r.rey duel;’ and the Acclimatisation Society frowned on the union. The grey duck is a native and I better bird than the mallard. But | tlie issue of't ie mating was a cross- , lned cluck, of no earthly use to anybody as one sportsman put j( ' were expressed that soon the <n-ov dnek would be a rare..bird, and hen"'' the-need for preserving the strain sub-committee of the Society 'was authorised to shoot out the mallards and the slaughter took place one monim K last week with very satisfactory rosillts. At present the birds are ‘in a freezer. It appears that, the mallard was introduced with the idea tiiat it- was a. good sporting duck; but it is far too tame ior sport. .'flic killing of the mallards removes picturesque families from the domain bnt it is proposed next spring to re*tock "ith grey ducks and spoonbills both of which are monogamous.